• Learn GameDev with Unity, Unreal, GameMaker, Blender and C# Humble Bundle

    Learn GameDev with Unity, Unreal, GameMaker, Blender and C# Humble Bundle / News / June 11, 2025 /

    The Learn GameDev with Unity, Godot, Unreal, GameMaker, Blender and C# Humble Bundle from Zenva is now available. Each game engine comes with 5 or more courses covering all aspects of game development. This bundle joins the No-Code No-Problem Develop bundle and the Big Bang Unreal Unity and Godot bundle already live on Humble.
    As with most Humble Bundles, this one is organized into tiers:
    1$ Tier
    Intro to Godot 4 Game DevelopmentIntro to the Game Development Industry
    Makes No Sense Tier
    Explore Audio for Godot 4 Games
    UV Mapping in Blender for Beginners
    UI/UX for Game Design
    25$ Tier
    Godot 4 Mini-ProjectsCreate a Micro Turn-Based RPG in Godot3D Action-Adventure Game in Godot – Unit 1 – Characters
    Intro to Visual Shaders in Godot 4
    Learn Game Optimization for Godot 4
    Coin Collector Game – Godot Mobile Projects
    Unreal Engine Mini-Projects
    Intro to Unreal Engine Game Development
    Create a Racing Game in Unreal Engine
    The Complete Unreal Engine C++ Course – Build an FPS
    Create a Turn-Based Mini RPG in Unreal Engine
    Build a 2.5D Farming RPG with Unreal Engine
    Intro to Game Development with Unity
    Unity Mini-Projects – C# Fundamentals
    Explore Game Optimization in Unity 6
    Intro to ECS for Unity 6
    Build an Arcade Kart Racing Game in Unity
    Construct a Mobile Physics Game in Unity
    Intro to Particle Systems for Unity Games
    Intro to Game Development with GameMaker
    Create a Complete 2D Action RPG in GameMaker
    Build a Real-Time Strategy Mini-Game with GameMaker
    Develop an Idle Clicker from Scratch in GameMaker
    Make a Mini Turn-Based RPG from Scratch in GameMaker
    The Comprehensive Introduction to C# Programming
    Build a Complete Mini 2D Game Engine with C#
    Learn 3D Modeling with Blender from Scratch
    Intro to Rigging Models in Blender
    MagicaVoxel for Beginners – Create Voxel Game Assets
    Prompt Engineering for Game Developers
    You can learn more about the Learn GameDev with Unity, Godot, Unreal, GameMaker, Blender and C# Humble Bundle in the video below. Using links on this page to purchase the bundle helps support GFS
    #learn #gamedev #with #unity #unreal
    Learn GameDev with Unity, Unreal, GameMaker, Blender and C# Humble Bundle
    Learn GameDev with Unity, Unreal, GameMaker, Blender and C# Humble Bundle / News / June 11, 2025 / The Learn GameDev with Unity, Godot, Unreal, GameMaker, Blender and C# Humble Bundle from Zenva is now available. Each game engine comes with 5 or more courses covering all aspects of game development. This bundle joins the No-Code No-Problem Develop bundle and the Big Bang Unreal Unity and Godot bundle already live on Humble. As with most Humble Bundles, this one is organized into tiers: 1$ Tier Intro to Godot 4 Game DevelopmentIntro to the Game Development Industry Makes No Sense Tier Explore Audio for Godot 4 Games UV Mapping in Blender for Beginners UI/UX for Game Design 25$ Tier Godot 4 Mini-ProjectsCreate a Micro Turn-Based RPG in Godot3D Action-Adventure Game in Godot – Unit 1 – Characters Intro to Visual Shaders in Godot 4 Learn Game Optimization for Godot 4 Coin Collector Game – Godot Mobile Projects Unreal Engine Mini-Projects Intro to Unreal Engine Game Development Create a Racing Game in Unreal Engine The Complete Unreal Engine C++ Course – Build an FPS Create a Turn-Based Mini RPG in Unreal Engine Build a 2.5D Farming RPG with Unreal Engine Intro to Game Development with Unity Unity Mini-Projects – C# Fundamentals Explore Game Optimization in Unity 6 Intro to ECS for Unity 6 Build an Arcade Kart Racing Game in Unity Construct a Mobile Physics Game in Unity Intro to Particle Systems for Unity Games Intro to Game Development with GameMaker Create a Complete 2D Action RPG in GameMaker Build a Real-Time Strategy Mini-Game with GameMaker Develop an Idle Clicker from Scratch in GameMaker Make a Mini Turn-Based RPG from Scratch in GameMaker The Comprehensive Introduction to C# Programming Build a Complete Mini 2D Game Engine with C# Learn 3D Modeling with Blender from Scratch Intro to Rigging Models in Blender MagicaVoxel for Beginners – Create Voxel Game Assets Prompt Engineering for Game Developers You can learn more about the Learn GameDev with Unity, Godot, Unreal, GameMaker, Blender and C# Humble Bundle in the video below. Using links on this page to purchase the bundle helps support GFS #learn #gamedev #with #unity #unreal
    Learn GameDev with Unity, Unreal, GameMaker, Blender and C# Humble Bundle
    gamefromscratch.com
    Learn GameDev with Unity, Unreal, GameMaker, Blender and C# Humble Bundle / News / June 11, 2025 / The Learn GameDev with Unity, Godot, Unreal, GameMaker, Blender and C# Humble Bundle from Zenva is now available. Each game engine comes with 5 or more courses covering all aspects of game development. This bundle joins the No-Code No-Problem Develop bundle and the Big Bang Unreal Unity and Godot bundle already live on Humble. As with most Humble Bundles, this one is organized into tiers: 1$ Tier Intro to Godot 4 Game Development (2025 Edition) Intro to the Game Development Industry Makes No Sense Tier Explore Audio for Godot 4 Games UV Mapping in Blender for Beginners UI/UX for Game Design 25$ Tier Godot 4 Mini-Projects (2025 Edition) Create a Micro Turn-Based RPG in Godot (2025 Edition) 3D Action-Adventure Game in Godot – Unit 1 – Characters Intro to Visual Shaders in Godot 4 Learn Game Optimization for Godot 4 Coin Collector Game – Godot Mobile Projects Unreal Engine Mini-Projects Intro to Unreal Engine Game Development Create a Racing Game in Unreal Engine The Complete Unreal Engine C++ Course – Build an FPS Create a Turn-Based Mini RPG in Unreal Engine Build a 2.5D Farming RPG with Unreal Engine Intro to Game Development with Unity Unity Mini-Projects – C# Fundamentals Explore Game Optimization in Unity 6 Intro to ECS for Unity 6 Build an Arcade Kart Racing Game in Unity Construct a Mobile Physics Game in Unity Intro to Particle Systems for Unity Games Intro to Game Development with GameMaker Create a Complete 2D Action RPG in GameMaker Build a Real-Time Strategy Mini-Game with GameMaker Develop an Idle Clicker from Scratch in GameMaker Make a Mini Turn-Based RPG from Scratch in GameMaker The Comprehensive Introduction to C# Programming Build a Complete Mini 2D Game Engine with C# Learn 3D Modeling with Blender from Scratch Intro to Rigging Models in Blender MagicaVoxel for Beginners – Create Voxel Game Assets Prompt Engineering for Game Developers You can learn more about the Learn GameDev with Unity, Godot, Unreal, GameMaker, Blender and C# Humble Bundle in the video below. Using links on this page to purchase the bundle helps support GFS (and thanks so much if you do!)
    Like
    Love
    Wow
    Sad
    Angry
    488
    · 2 Комментарии ·0 Поделились ·0 предпросмотр
  • How to take photos on your phone via remote control

    Get the Popular Science daily newsletter
    Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday.

    Our smartphones have transformed the way we take photos and videos and our relationship to these digital memories. Most of us will snap at least some pictures and clips every day with the gadget that’s always close at hand.
    If you want to get more creative with photos on your phone, you can. Sometimes you’re going to want to take a picture remotely, without your phone in your hand and your finger over the shutter button—maybe you’re taking a wide shot of a large group, or you want to capture a lot of your surroundings.
    Not only is this possible, there are multiple ways to go about it, no matter which flavor of phone you own. You can pick the one that you find the easiest to use, or switch between them as you need.
    Use your smartwatch
    If you’ve got an Apple Watch, it comes with a Camera app. Image: Raagesh C/Unsplash
    If you’ve got a smartwatch to match your smartphone, you can use it to take photos remotely, as long as you’re within about 33 feetof the phone. Get your handset in position first, then load up the relevant app on your watch—though you can then go back and readjust the phone if needed.
    With the Apple Watch and an iPhone, the app you want on your wrist is the Camera Remote app, which comes preinstalled. A viewfinder screen from your iPhone will appear: Use the digital crown to zoom, and the shutter buttonto take a shot. By default, a three-second timer is used, but you can change this by tapping the button with the three dots.
    For those of you with an Android phone and a Wear OS smartwatch, you can use Google’s default Camera app, which you should find preinstalled on your watch. Launch it from your wrist, and the Camera app should open on your connected phone: You can zoom using the slider on the right, and take a photoby tapping the shutter button with a 3 on it. To change this delay, tap the three lines at the top.
    Use your voice
    Settings for Voice Control on iOS. Screenshot: Apple
    No matter what phone you have, it’ll come with support for voice commands—and one of those commands will let you take photos. This will only work where your phone is close enough to hear you, and where you’re happy to talk to it, but it can be useful in certain situations for remote controlling the camera app.
    On the iPhone, Siri can open the Camera app but won’t actually take a photo. To enable voice controlled capture, open Settings and choose Accessibility > Voice Control, then turn the feature on. The same page has a Commands menu where you can set up your custom voice command for taking photos, which will work from the viewfinder screen.
    On Android, it’s even easier: Just say “hey Google, take a photo”—you can even add a number of seconds for a timer countdown. Gemini is now the default assistant for this task: To make sure it responds to voice commands, open the app, tap your profile picture, then choose Settings > “Hey Google ” & Voice Match.
    Use the timer
    Configuring the timer on a Pixel phone. Screenshot: Google
    This is a really straightforward one, and you don’t need any extra apps or devices to get it set up. Your phone’s camera app comes with a timer control, so you can position the shot, set the timer, and then get in the frame. There’s a bit of guesswork involved, especially if you’re using your phone’s rear camera, but it’s a simple option.
    On the iPhone, you can tap the arrow near the top of the Camera app screen to reveal extra camera options at the bottom. Scroll through the icons until you reach the one that looks like a stopwatch. Tap this, and you can choose between a 3-second, 5-second, and 10-second delay when you press the shutter button.
    On Pixel phones, tap the gear iconto find the timer control: As on the iPhone, the delay options are 3 seconds, 5 seconds, or 10 seconds. If you’re using the Camera app on a Galaxy phone, tap the four dots, then the timer icon, and you get the same delay options.
    Use another method
    The latest Pixel phones have a Connected Cameras feature too. Screenshot: Google
    You’ve got yet more options for this if you need them. One is to use a simple Bluetooth clicker as a remote control: There are a whole host to choose from, such as this CamKix model that will cost you a mere They work across iOS and Android and are easy to connect to your camera app.
    If you have two Pixel 9 phones, you can also use a special feature called Connected Cameras. You can find it from Settings by tapping Connected devices > Connection preferences > Connected Cameras: You get a brief explanation of what the feature does, and you can turn it on via the Use Connected Cameras toggle switch.
    This is a niche use case, as it only works with two handsets from the Pixel 9 series. But if those are the phones you and your family have, you can use one to take photos through the camera of the other; head to the official guide from Google for more details on how it works.
    #how #take #photos #your #phone
    How to take photos on your phone via remote control
    Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Our smartphones have transformed the way we take photos and videos and our relationship to these digital memories. Most of us will snap at least some pictures and clips every day with the gadget that’s always close at hand. If you want to get more creative with photos on your phone, you can. Sometimes you’re going to want to take a picture remotely, without your phone in your hand and your finger over the shutter button—maybe you’re taking a wide shot of a large group, or you want to capture a lot of your surroundings. Not only is this possible, there are multiple ways to go about it, no matter which flavor of phone you own. You can pick the one that you find the easiest to use, or switch between them as you need. Use your smartwatch If you’ve got an Apple Watch, it comes with a Camera app. Image: Raagesh C/Unsplash If you’ve got a smartwatch to match your smartphone, you can use it to take photos remotely, as long as you’re within about 33 feetof the phone. Get your handset in position first, then load up the relevant app on your watch—though you can then go back and readjust the phone if needed. With the Apple Watch and an iPhone, the app you want on your wrist is the Camera Remote app, which comes preinstalled. A viewfinder screen from your iPhone will appear: Use the digital crown to zoom, and the shutter buttonto take a shot. By default, a three-second timer is used, but you can change this by tapping the button with the three dots. For those of you with an Android phone and a Wear OS smartwatch, you can use Google’s default Camera app, which you should find preinstalled on your watch. Launch it from your wrist, and the Camera app should open on your connected phone: You can zoom using the slider on the right, and take a photoby tapping the shutter button with a 3 on it. To change this delay, tap the three lines at the top. Use your voice Settings for Voice Control on iOS. Screenshot: Apple No matter what phone you have, it’ll come with support for voice commands—and one of those commands will let you take photos. This will only work where your phone is close enough to hear you, and where you’re happy to talk to it, but it can be useful in certain situations for remote controlling the camera app. On the iPhone, Siri can open the Camera app but won’t actually take a photo. To enable voice controlled capture, open Settings and choose Accessibility > Voice Control, then turn the feature on. The same page has a Commands menu where you can set up your custom voice command for taking photos, which will work from the viewfinder screen. On Android, it’s even easier: Just say “hey Google, take a photo”—you can even add a number of seconds for a timer countdown. Gemini is now the default assistant for this task: To make sure it responds to voice commands, open the app, tap your profile picture, then choose Settings > “Hey Google ” & Voice Match. Use the timer Configuring the timer on a Pixel phone. Screenshot: Google This is a really straightforward one, and you don’t need any extra apps or devices to get it set up. Your phone’s camera app comes with a timer control, so you can position the shot, set the timer, and then get in the frame. There’s a bit of guesswork involved, especially if you’re using your phone’s rear camera, but it’s a simple option. On the iPhone, you can tap the arrow near the top of the Camera app screen to reveal extra camera options at the bottom. Scroll through the icons until you reach the one that looks like a stopwatch. Tap this, and you can choose between a 3-second, 5-second, and 10-second delay when you press the shutter button. On Pixel phones, tap the gear iconto find the timer control: As on the iPhone, the delay options are 3 seconds, 5 seconds, or 10 seconds. If you’re using the Camera app on a Galaxy phone, tap the four dots, then the timer icon, and you get the same delay options. Use another method The latest Pixel phones have a Connected Cameras feature too. Screenshot: Google You’ve got yet more options for this if you need them. One is to use a simple Bluetooth clicker as a remote control: There are a whole host to choose from, such as this CamKix model that will cost you a mere They work across iOS and Android and are easy to connect to your camera app. If you have two Pixel 9 phones, you can also use a special feature called Connected Cameras. You can find it from Settings by tapping Connected devices > Connection preferences > Connected Cameras: You get a brief explanation of what the feature does, and you can turn it on via the Use Connected Cameras toggle switch. This is a niche use case, as it only works with two handsets from the Pixel 9 series. But if those are the phones you and your family have, you can use one to take photos through the camera of the other; head to the official guide from Google for more details on how it works. #how #take #photos #your #phone
    How to take photos on your phone via remote control
    www.popsci.com
    Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Our smartphones have transformed the way we take photos and videos and our relationship to these digital memories. Most of us will snap at least some pictures and clips every day with the gadget that’s always close at hand. If you want to get more creative with photos on your phone, you can. Sometimes you’re going to want to take a picture remotely, without your phone in your hand and your finger over the shutter button—maybe you’re taking a wide shot of a large group, or you want to capture a lot of your surroundings. Not only is this possible, there are multiple ways to go about it, no matter which flavor of phone you own. You can pick the one that you find the easiest to use, or switch between them as you need. Use your smartwatch If you’ve got an Apple Watch, it comes with a Camera app. Image: Raagesh C/Unsplash If you’ve got a smartwatch to match your smartphone, you can use it to take photos remotely, as long as you’re within about 33 feet (10 meters) of the phone. Get your handset in position first, then load up the relevant app on your watch—though you can then go back and readjust the phone if needed. With the Apple Watch and an iPhone, the app you want on your wrist is the Camera Remote app, which comes preinstalled. A viewfinder screen from your iPhone will appear: Use the digital crown to zoom, and the shutter button (in the middle) to take a shot. By default, a three-second timer is used, but you can change this by tapping the button with the three dots (lower right). For those of you with an Android phone and a Wear OS smartwatch, you can use Google’s default Camera app, which you should find preinstalled on your watch. Launch it from your wrist, and the Camera app should open on your connected phone: You can zoom using the slider on the right, and take a photo (with a three-second delay) by tapping the shutter button with a 3 on it. To change this delay, tap the three lines at the top. Use your voice Settings for Voice Control on iOS. Screenshot: Apple No matter what phone you have, it’ll come with support for voice commands—and one of those commands will let you take photos. This will only work where your phone is close enough to hear you, and where you’re happy to talk to it, but it can be useful in certain situations for remote controlling the camera app. On the iPhone, Siri can open the Camera app but won’t actually take a photo. To enable voice controlled capture, open Settings and choose Accessibility > Voice Control, then turn the feature on. The same page has a Commands menu where you can set up your custom voice command for taking photos, which will work from the viewfinder screen. On Android, it’s even easier: Just say “hey Google, take a photo”—you can even add a number of seconds for a timer countdown. Gemini is now the default assistant for this task: To make sure it responds to voice commands, open the app, tap your profile picture (top right), then choose Settings > “Hey Google ” & Voice Match. Use the timer Configuring the timer on a Pixel phone. Screenshot: Google This is a really straightforward one, and you don’t need any extra apps or devices to get it set up. Your phone’s camera app comes with a timer control, so you can position the shot, set the timer, and then get in the frame. There’s a bit of guesswork involved, especially if you’re using your phone’s rear camera (as you won’t be able to see yourself), but it’s a simple option. On the iPhone, you can tap the arrow near the top of the Camera app screen to reveal extra camera options at the bottom. Scroll through the icons until you reach the one that looks like a stopwatch. Tap this, and you can choose between a 3-second, 5-second, and 10-second delay when you press the shutter button. On Pixel phones, tap the gear icon (lower left in portrait mode) to find the timer control: As on the iPhone, the delay options are 3 seconds, 5 seconds, or 10 seconds. If you’re using the Camera app on a Galaxy phone, tap the four dots (to the right in portrait mode), then the timer icon (which looks like a stopwatch), and you get the same delay options. Use another method The latest Pixel phones have a Connected Cameras feature too. Screenshot: Google You’ve got yet more options for this if you need them. One is to use a simple Bluetooth clicker as a remote control: There are a whole host to choose from, such as this CamKix model that will cost you a mere $5.49. They work across iOS and Android and are easy to connect to your camera app. If you have two Pixel 9 phones, you can also use a special feature called Connected Cameras. You can find it from Settings by tapping Connected devices > Connection preferences > Connected Cameras: You get a brief explanation of what the feature does, and you can turn it on via the Use Connected Cameras toggle switch. This is a niche use case, as it only works with two handsets from the Pixel 9 series (at least for now). But if those are the phones you and your family have, you can use one to take photos through the camera of the other; head to the official guide from Google for more details on how it works.
    Like
    Love
    Wow
    Sad
    Angry
    638
    · 0 Комментарии ·0 Поделились ·0 предпросмотр
  • How to Check and Fix Your Email Sender Reputation

    Reading Time: 8 minutes
    Sometimes, even the slickest emails can land with a thud in the spam folder. The culprit? Your email sender reputation.
    Just like a bank checks your credit history before lending you money, mailbox providerscheck your sender reputation before deciding whether to deliver your customer relationship emails to the inbox or banish them to spam.
    So buckle up, because here, we’re about to unpack everything you need to know about what an email domain reputation is and how to keep yours squeaky clean.

    Now, you’re probably wondering…
     
    What is Email Sender Reputation?
    Email sender reputation, also known as email domain reputation, is a measure of your brand’s trustworthiness as an email sender. It’s based on factors like your sending history, email engagement, and complaint rates, influencing whether mailbox providers deliver your messages to recipients’ inboxes or junk folders.
    A solid sender reputation is the golden ticket to inbox placement. Without it, your carefully crafted automated email marketing campaigns might as well be shouting into the void.
    Mailbox providers are constantly on the lookout for spammers and shady senders, and your reputation is a key indicator of whether you’re one of the good guys.
    But how do they know that?
     
    5 Factors That Influence Email Marketing Sender Reputation
    Your email sending reputation isn’t built overnight; it’s a result of consistent behavior and several critical factors.

    Let’s break down the big five:
    1. Quality of Your Email List
    Building your email list is hard, we know. But honestly, validating it to ensure that all email addresses are real and belong to existing subscribers helps you maintain a positive sender reputation score with mailbox providers. This is why you should use a proper email validation API, as it can help you quickly check if the email addresses are legitimate.
    Your reputation score can suffer if you’re labeled as a bad email sender, with all the bounces you get from a bad email list.
    2. Email Sending History
    Having an established history with a particular IP address can boost the legitimacy and reputation score of your emails, which means the sender, messages, and recipients are all coming from a legitimate place.
    Spammers will often change IP addresses and, therefore, cannot establish a long and reputable sending history with IPs.
    3. Consistency and Volume of Emails
    The number of emails you send and your consistency in sending them are also indicators of your legitimacy and reputation. Sending two emails every other week, for example, shows stability and predictability in terms of your sending volume and activities.
    Mailbox providers and Internet Service Providersalso examine your sending patterns and frequency to determine whether you’re still on the right track or have turned to spamming.
    4. Email Open Rates or Engagement
    This is a metric that records subscriber activity or your email engagement, such as the open or click-through rates. It’s very significant because mailbox providers value their subscribers’ preferences. Your emails could be filtered out if there is a very low response rate or no interactions at all.
    5. Emails Marked as ‘SPAM’
    Mailbox providers would take a cue from their subscribers’ preferences whenever they receive emails.
    So, if your email messages are consistently marked as ‘Spam’, then this feedback would result in your emails being screened or placed in the Spam or Junk folder. And that’s not where you’d want your emails to hang out.
     
    How to Check Email Sender Reputation
    You can verify your email domain reputation by monitoring key metrics and using reputation checking tools.
    Many email marketing software platformsprovide dashboards and analytics that help you monitor these crucial indicators. MoEngage goes a step further by offering insights and tools to help you proactively manage and improve your email deliverability, making it easier to spot and address potential reputation issues before they escalate. In fact, you can achieve an inbox placement rate of over 95%!
    Coming back to the topic, the platform indicates email domain reputation as High, Medium, Low, or Bad. More specifically, it lets you:

    Filter campaigns based on reputation while exporting their data.
    See historical trends in your domain reputation.
    View more information, such as when the reputation information was last updated.
    Analyze email marketing metrics, like open rates and click-through rates.

    How an Email Sender Reputation Score Works
    Your email sender reputation score is a dynamic rating that mailbox providers assign to your sending domain and IP address. This score isn’t a fixed number, but rather, a constantly evolving assessment based on your list quality, sending history, and other factors we’ve discussed above.
    Higher scores generally mean better inbox placement, while lower scores can lead to the dreaded spam folder. Different mailbox providers have their own algorithms for calculating this score, and the exact formulas are usually kept secret.
    However, the underlying principles revolve around your sending behavior and recipient engagement.
    How Can You Do a Domain Reputation Test and How Often Should You Do This?
    You can run an email domain reputation test using various software tools. These reputation checkers analyze your domain and IP address against known blacklists and provide insights into your current standing.
    Ideally, you should be monitoring your key metrics within your ESP regularlyand perform a more comprehensive domain reputation test at least monthly, or more frequently if you’re experiencing deliverability issues. Consistent monitoring helps you catch problems early and maintain a healthy reputation.
     
    3 Best Email Domain Reputation Checkers
    Alright, let’s talk tools. While your ESP often provides built-in deliverability insights, these external domain reputation checkers can offer another layer of perspective. Let’s jump right in!
    1. MoEngage

    Okay, we might be a little biased, but hear us out.
    MoEngage is more than just an email marketing platform; it’s a powerhouse for cross-channel customer engagement. Its robust analytics and deliverability features give you a clear view of your email performance, helping you proactively manage your email sender reputation.
    MoEngage stands out because it integrates domain reputation monitoring with tools to improve engagement and personalize your campaigns, leading to better deliverability in the long run. Unlike some standalone domain reputation checkers, MoEngage provides actionable insights within your workflow.
    How Pricing Works: MoEngage offers customized pricing plans based on your specific needs and scale. Contact the sales team for a personalized quote.
    Best For: Brands looking for an integrated customer engagement platformwith robust email deliverability management capabilities.
    2. Spamhaus Project

    The Spamhaus Project allows you to track spam, malware, phishing, and other cybersecurity threats. ISPs and email servers filter out unwanted and harmful content using Spamhaus’s DNS-based blocklists.
    How Pricing Works: Spamhaus provides its blacklist data and lookup tools for free to most users, as part of their mission to combat spam.
    Best For: Quickly checking if your domain or IP is on major spam blacklists.
    3. MxToolbox

    You can use MxToolbox to check if your domain is mentioned on any email blocklists. It scans your domain for mail servers, DNS records, web servers, and any problems.
    While comprehensive in its checks, this domain reputation checker doesn’t provide the same level of integrated deliverability management and analytics that a platform like MoEngage offers.
    How Pricing Works: MxToolbox offers both free tools and paid subscription plans with more advanced features, with pricing starting from around per month.
    Best For: Performing a broad check across numerous email blacklists.

     
    How to Improve Your Email Domain Reputation
    So, your domain email reputation doesn’t look as shiny as you’d like? No worries! Here are concrete steps you can take to improve it.

    Think of it as spring cleaning for your email sending practices.
    1. Manage a Clean Email List
    Email list management is foundational. Regularly prune inactive subscribers, remove bounced addresses, and promptly honor unsubscribe requests. Implement a double opt-in process to ensure subscribers genuinely want to hear from you.
    A clean, engaged email list signals to mailbox providers that you’re sending to interested recipients, and reduces bounce rates and spam complaints. It’s crucial for a positive email sender reputation score.
    2. Send Confirmation Emails with Double Opt-Ins
    Include double opt-ins where you send automated confirmation emails to subscribers. This helps you distinguish valid email addresses from nonexistent ones.
    Basically, protecting your email sender reputation is easy when you adhere to best practices. Ensuring that your email messages are engaging and interesting helps you get more clicks and open rates. Attracting more interaction to your email messages sends a signal to mailbox providers that you have a legitimate and professional organization.
    Increasing the positive activities and reviews will help build and solidify your branding strategy, sending a message that is relatable and understood by your subscribers.
    3. Pause Violating Campaigns
    Notice a sudden spike in bounces or spam complaints after a particular email marketing campaign? Pause the campaign immediately to investigate the cause.
    Ideally, you should not send transactional and non-transactional emails from the same domain. If the compliance requirements are met, there is no need to pause transactional emails. However, you should pause all one-time emails.
    Continuing to send problematic emails will only further damage your email sending reputation. Addressing the issue swiftly demonstrates responsibility to mailbox providers.
    4. Correct the Mistakes
    Once you’ve paused a problematic campaign, take the time to understand what went wrong. Did you use a purchased list? Was the content or subject line misleading?.
    Identify the root cause and implement corrective measures so it doesn’t happen again. Showing that you learn from your mistakes helps rebuild trust with mailbox providers over time.
    Then, raise a ticket to Gmail or other ESP explaining the cause behind the reputation issues, your changes, and the next steps you plan to follow. Have checkpoints to detect issues immediately, so you can always stay on top of them.
    5. Use Subdomains for Sending Emails
    Establish a subdomain you’re going to use only for sending emails to customers. That’s because if anything goes wrong, the subdomain will take the hit directly, while mildly affecting your company’s main registered domain. It’s like a backup.
    Also, hopefully, your customers will remember and recognize your subdomain with time. So even if your emails do land in the spam folder, customers might mark them as ‘Not spam’. Yay!
    6. Resume and Ramp Up Your Email Frequency
    After addressing the issues and making necessary changes, don’t be afraid to resume sending. But take baby steps.
    Resume your transactional emails first. Don’t send transactional and promotional emails from the same domains and IPs. If you already have, separate them while correcting your email setup.
    Next, resume your personalized event-triggered campaigns. Then, slowly send one-time campaigns to email openers and clickers. Send at a lower RPM and send only 2-3 campaigns per week.
    After the email domain reputation improves, gradually increase the overall sending frequency and volume.
    When emailing non-engaged customers, slowly raise your email frequency to prevent sudden volume spikes from triggering spam filters. This careful approach communicates to mailbox providers that you are a responsible sender.
    7. Customize Your Sending Patterns
    Avoid sending all your emails at the same time to everyone on your list. Segment your audience and tailor your sending schedules based on their engagement and time zones.
    This shows mailbox providers that you’re sending relevant content to the right customers at the right time, improving engagement and your overall email marketing domain reputation.
    Create lifecycle campaigns to engage your customers. Use dynamic segments, so inactive customers get dropped off automatically. Implement personalization across every aspect of your email.
     
    Maintaining Email Domain Reputation with MoEngage
    Maintaining a stellar email domain reputation is an ongoing effort, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.
    Hundreds of B2C brands trust MoEngage to provide the insights and tools they need to monitor deliverability, understand audience engagement, and proactively manage their sending practices. By leveraging the platform’s analytics and segmentation capabilities, our customers can be sure their emails consistently land in the inbox, where they belong.
    Ready to take control of your email deliverability and build a rock-solid email sender reputation? Explore MoEngage’s comprehensive email marketing solutions. Or better yet, request a demo to see MoEngage’s email solutions in action today.
    The post How to Check and Fix Your Email Sender Reputation appeared first on MoEngage.
    #how #check #fix #your #email
    How to Check and Fix Your Email Sender Reputation
    Reading Time: 8 minutes Sometimes, even the slickest emails can land with a thud in the spam folder. The culprit? Your email sender reputation. Just like a bank checks your credit history before lending you money, mailbox providerscheck your sender reputation before deciding whether to deliver your customer relationship emails to the inbox or banish them to spam. So buckle up, because here, we’re about to unpack everything you need to know about what an email domain reputation is and how to keep yours squeaky clean. Now, you’re probably wondering…   What is Email Sender Reputation? Email sender reputation, also known as email domain reputation, is a measure of your brand’s trustworthiness as an email sender. It’s based on factors like your sending history, email engagement, and complaint rates, influencing whether mailbox providers deliver your messages to recipients’ inboxes or junk folders. A solid sender reputation is the golden ticket to inbox placement. Without it, your carefully crafted automated email marketing campaigns might as well be shouting into the void. Mailbox providers are constantly on the lookout for spammers and shady senders, and your reputation is a key indicator of whether you’re one of the good guys. But how do they know that?   5 Factors That Influence Email Marketing Sender Reputation Your email sending reputation isn’t built overnight; it’s a result of consistent behavior and several critical factors. Let’s break down the big five: 1. Quality of Your Email List Building your email list is hard, we know. But honestly, validating it to ensure that all email addresses are real and belong to existing subscribers helps you maintain a positive sender reputation score with mailbox providers. This is why you should use a proper email validation API, as it can help you quickly check if the email addresses are legitimate. Your reputation score can suffer if you’re labeled as a bad email sender, with all the bounces you get from a bad email list. 2. Email Sending History Having an established history with a particular IP address can boost the legitimacy and reputation score of your emails, which means the sender, messages, and recipients are all coming from a legitimate place. Spammers will often change IP addresses and, therefore, cannot establish a long and reputable sending history with IPs. 3. Consistency and Volume of Emails The number of emails you send and your consistency in sending them are also indicators of your legitimacy and reputation. Sending two emails every other week, for example, shows stability and predictability in terms of your sending volume and activities. Mailbox providers and Internet Service Providersalso examine your sending patterns and frequency to determine whether you’re still on the right track or have turned to spamming. 4. Email Open Rates or Engagement This is a metric that records subscriber activity or your email engagement, such as the open or click-through rates. It’s very significant because mailbox providers value their subscribers’ preferences. Your emails could be filtered out if there is a very low response rate or no interactions at all. 5. Emails Marked as ‘SPAM’ Mailbox providers would take a cue from their subscribers’ preferences whenever they receive emails. So, if your email messages are consistently marked as ‘Spam’, then this feedback would result in your emails being screened or placed in the Spam or Junk folder. And that’s not where you’d want your emails to hang out.   How to Check Email Sender Reputation You can verify your email domain reputation by monitoring key metrics and using reputation checking tools. Many email marketing software platformsprovide dashboards and analytics that help you monitor these crucial indicators. MoEngage goes a step further by offering insights and tools to help you proactively manage and improve your email deliverability, making it easier to spot and address potential reputation issues before they escalate. In fact, you can achieve an inbox placement rate of over 95%! Coming back to the topic, the platform indicates email domain reputation as High, Medium, Low, or Bad. More specifically, it lets you: Filter campaigns based on reputation while exporting their data. See historical trends in your domain reputation. View more information, such as when the reputation information was last updated. Analyze email marketing metrics, like open rates and click-through rates. How an Email Sender Reputation Score Works Your email sender reputation score is a dynamic rating that mailbox providers assign to your sending domain and IP address. This score isn’t a fixed number, but rather, a constantly evolving assessment based on your list quality, sending history, and other factors we’ve discussed above. Higher scores generally mean better inbox placement, while lower scores can lead to the dreaded spam folder. Different mailbox providers have their own algorithms for calculating this score, and the exact formulas are usually kept secret. However, the underlying principles revolve around your sending behavior and recipient engagement. How Can You Do a Domain Reputation Test and How Often Should You Do This? You can run an email domain reputation test using various software tools. These reputation checkers analyze your domain and IP address against known blacklists and provide insights into your current standing. Ideally, you should be monitoring your key metrics within your ESP regularlyand perform a more comprehensive domain reputation test at least monthly, or more frequently if you’re experiencing deliverability issues. Consistent monitoring helps you catch problems early and maintain a healthy reputation.   3 Best Email Domain Reputation Checkers Alright, let’s talk tools. While your ESP often provides built-in deliverability insights, these external domain reputation checkers can offer another layer of perspective. Let’s jump right in! 1. MoEngage Okay, we might be a little biased, but hear us out. MoEngage is more than just an email marketing platform; it’s a powerhouse for cross-channel customer engagement. Its robust analytics and deliverability features give you a clear view of your email performance, helping you proactively manage your email sender reputation. MoEngage stands out because it integrates domain reputation monitoring with tools to improve engagement and personalize your campaigns, leading to better deliverability in the long run. Unlike some standalone domain reputation checkers, MoEngage provides actionable insights within your workflow. How Pricing Works: MoEngage offers customized pricing plans based on your specific needs and scale. Contact the sales team for a personalized quote. Best For: Brands looking for an integrated customer engagement platformwith robust email deliverability management capabilities. 2. Spamhaus Project The Spamhaus Project allows you to track spam, malware, phishing, and other cybersecurity threats. ISPs and email servers filter out unwanted and harmful content using Spamhaus’s DNS-based blocklists. How Pricing Works: Spamhaus provides its blacklist data and lookup tools for free to most users, as part of their mission to combat spam. Best For: Quickly checking if your domain or IP is on major spam blacklists. 3. MxToolbox You can use MxToolbox to check if your domain is mentioned on any email blocklists. It scans your domain for mail servers, DNS records, web servers, and any problems. While comprehensive in its checks, this domain reputation checker doesn’t provide the same level of integrated deliverability management and analytics that a platform like MoEngage offers. How Pricing Works: MxToolbox offers both free tools and paid subscription plans with more advanced features, with pricing starting from around per month. Best For: Performing a broad check across numerous email blacklists.   How to Improve Your Email Domain Reputation So, your domain email reputation doesn’t look as shiny as you’d like? No worries! Here are concrete steps you can take to improve it. Think of it as spring cleaning for your email sending practices. 1. Manage a Clean Email List Email list management is foundational. Regularly prune inactive subscribers, remove bounced addresses, and promptly honor unsubscribe requests. Implement a double opt-in process to ensure subscribers genuinely want to hear from you. A clean, engaged email list signals to mailbox providers that you’re sending to interested recipients, and reduces bounce rates and spam complaints. It’s crucial for a positive email sender reputation score. 2. Send Confirmation Emails with Double Opt-Ins Include double opt-ins where you send automated confirmation emails to subscribers. This helps you distinguish valid email addresses from nonexistent ones. Basically, protecting your email sender reputation is easy when you adhere to best practices. Ensuring that your email messages are engaging and interesting helps you get more clicks and open rates. Attracting more interaction to your email messages sends a signal to mailbox providers that you have a legitimate and professional organization. Increasing the positive activities and reviews will help build and solidify your branding strategy, sending a message that is relatable and understood by your subscribers. 3. Pause Violating Campaigns Notice a sudden spike in bounces or spam complaints after a particular email marketing campaign? Pause the campaign immediately to investigate the cause. Ideally, you should not send transactional and non-transactional emails from the same domain. If the compliance requirements are met, there is no need to pause transactional emails. However, you should pause all one-time emails. Continuing to send problematic emails will only further damage your email sending reputation. Addressing the issue swiftly demonstrates responsibility to mailbox providers. 4. Correct the Mistakes Once you’ve paused a problematic campaign, take the time to understand what went wrong. Did you use a purchased list? Was the content or subject line misleading?. Identify the root cause and implement corrective measures so it doesn’t happen again. Showing that you learn from your mistakes helps rebuild trust with mailbox providers over time. Then, raise a ticket to Gmail or other ESP explaining the cause behind the reputation issues, your changes, and the next steps you plan to follow. Have checkpoints to detect issues immediately, so you can always stay on top of them. 5. Use Subdomains for Sending Emails Establish a subdomain you’re going to use only for sending emails to customers. That’s because if anything goes wrong, the subdomain will take the hit directly, while mildly affecting your company’s main registered domain. It’s like a backup. Also, hopefully, your customers will remember and recognize your subdomain with time. So even if your emails do land in the spam folder, customers might mark them as ‘Not spam’. Yay! 6. Resume and Ramp Up Your Email Frequency After addressing the issues and making necessary changes, don’t be afraid to resume sending. But take baby steps. Resume your transactional emails first. Don’t send transactional and promotional emails from the same domains and IPs. If you already have, separate them while correcting your email setup. Next, resume your personalized event-triggered campaigns. Then, slowly send one-time campaigns to email openers and clickers. Send at a lower RPM and send only 2-3 campaigns per week. After the email domain reputation improves, gradually increase the overall sending frequency and volume. When emailing non-engaged customers, slowly raise your email frequency to prevent sudden volume spikes from triggering spam filters. This careful approach communicates to mailbox providers that you are a responsible sender. 7. Customize Your Sending Patterns Avoid sending all your emails at the same time to everyone on your list. Segment your audience and tailor your sending schedules based on their engagement and time zones. This shows mailbox providers that you’re sending relevant content to the right customers at the right time, improving engagement and your overall email marketing domain reputation. Create lifecycle campaigns to engage your customers. Use dynamic segments, so inactive customers get dropped off automatically. Implement personalization across every aspect of your email.   Maintaining Email Domain Reputation with MoEngage Maintaining a stellar email domain reputation is an ongoing effort, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Hundreds of B2C brands trust MoEngage to provide the insights and tools they need to monitor deliverability, understand audience engagement, and proactively manage their sending practices. By leveraging the platform’s analytics and segmentation capabilities, our customers can be sure their emails consistently land in the inbox, where they belong. Ready to take control of your email deliverability and build a rock-solid email sender reputation? Explore MoEngage’s comprehensive email marketing solutions. Or better yet, request a demo to see MoEngage’s email solutions in action today. The post How to Check and Fix Your Email Sender Reputation appeared first on MoEngage. #how #check #fix #your #email
    How to Check and Fix Your Email Sender Reputation
    www.moengage.com
    Reading Time: 8 minutes Sometimes, even the slickest emails can land with a thud in the spam folder. The culprit? Your email sender reputation. Just like a bank checks your credit history before lending you money, mailbox providers (like Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) check your sender reputation before deciding whether to deliver your customer relationship emails to the inbox or banish them to spam. So buckle up, because here, we’re about to unpack everything you need to know about what an email domain reputation is and how to keep yours squeaky clean. Now, you’re probably wondering…   What is Email Sender Reputation? Email sender reputation, also known as email domain reputation, is a measure of your brand’s trustworthiness as an email sender. It’s based on factors like your sending history, email engagement, and complaint rates, influencing whether mailbox providers deliver your messages to recipients’ inboxes or junk folders. A solid sender reputation is the golden ticket to inbox placement. Without it, your carefully crafted automated email marketing campaigns might as well be shouting into the void. Mailbox providers are constantly on the lookout for spammers and shady senders, and your reputation is a key indicator of whether you’re one of the good guys. But how do they know that?   5 Factors That Influence Email Marketing Sender Reputation Your email sending reputation isn’t built overnight; it’s a result of consistent behavior and several critical factors. Let’s break down the big five: 1. Quality of Your Email List Building your email list is hard, we know. But honestly, validating it to ensure that all email addresses are real and belong to existing subscribers helps you maintain a positive sender reputation score with mailbox providers. This is why you should use a proper email validation API, as it can help you quickly check if the email addresses are legitimate. Your reputation score can suffer if you’re labeled as a bad email sender, with all the bounces you get from a bad email list. 2. Email Sending History Having an established history with a particular IP address can boost the legitimacy and reputation score of your emails, which means the sender, messages, and recipients are all coming from a legitimate place. Spammers will often change IP addresses and, therefore, cannot establish a long and reputable sending history with IPs. 3. Consistency and Volume of Emails The number of emails you send and your consistency in sending them are also indicators of your legitimacy and reputation. Sending two emails every other week, for example, shows stability and predictability in terms of your sending volume and activities. Mailbox providers and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) also examine your sending patterns and frequency to determine whether you’re still on the right track or have turned to spamming. 4. Email Open Rates or Engagement This is a metric that records subscriber activity or your email engagement, such as the open or click-through rates. It’s very significant because mailbox providers value their subscribers’ preferences. Your emails could be filtered out if there is a very low response rate or no interactions at all. 5. Emails Marked as ‘SPAM’ Mailbox providers would take a cue from their subscribers’ preferences whenever they receive emails. So, if your email messages are consistently marked as ‘Spam’, then this feedback would result in your emails being screened or placed in the Spam or Junk folder. And that’s not where you’d want your emails to hang out.   How to Check Email Sender Reputation You can verify your email domain reputation by monitoring key metrics and using reputation checking tools. Many email marketing software platforms (like MoEngage, for example) provide dashboards and analytics that help you monitor these crucial indicators. MoEngage goes a step further by offering insights and tools to help you proactively manage and improve your email deliverability, making it easier to spot and address potential reputation issues before they escalate. In fact, you can achieve an inbox placement rate of over 95%! Coming back to the topic, the platform indicates email domain reputation as High, Medium, Low, or Bad. More specifically, it lets you: Filter campaigns based on reputation while exporting their data. See historical trends in your domain reputation. View more information, such as when the reputation information was last updated. Analyze email marketing metrics, like open rates and click-through rates. How an Email Sender Reputation Score Works Your email sender reputation score is a dynamic rating that mailbox providers assign to your sending domain and IP address. This score isn’t a fixed number, but rather, a constantly evolving assessment based on your list quality, sending history, and other factors we’ve discussed above. Higher scores generally mean better inbox placement, while lower scores can lead to the dreaded spam folder. Different mailbox providers have their own algorithms for calculating this score, and the exact formulas are usually kept secret. However, the underlying principles revolve around your sending behavior and recipient engagement. How Can You Do a Domain Reputation Test and How Often Should You Do This? You can run an email domain reputation test using various software tools (we’ll get to some of the best ones in a sec!). These reputation checkers analyze your domain and IP address against known blacklists and provide insights into your current standing. Ideally, you should be monitoring your key metrics within your ESP regularly (daily or weekly) and perform a more comprehensive domain reputation test at least monthly, or more frequently if you’re experiencing deliverability issues. Consistent monitoring helps you catch problems early and maintain a healthy reputation.   3 Best Email Domain Reputation Checkers Alright, let’s talk tools. While your ESP often provides built-in deliverability insights, these external domain reputation checkers can offer another layer of perspective. Let’s jump right in! 1. MoEngage Okay, we might be a little biased, but hear us out. MoEngage is more than just an email marketing platform; it’s a powerhouse for cross-channel customer engagement. Its robust analytics and deliverability features give you a clear view of your email performance, helping you proactively manage your email sender reputation. MoEngage stands out because it integrates domain reputation monitoring with tools to improve engagement and personalize your campaigns, leading to better deliverability in the long run. Unlike some standalone domain reputation checkers, MoEngage provides actionable insights within your workflow. How Pricing Works: MoEngage offers customized pricing plans based on your specific needs and scale. Contact the sales team for a personalized quote. Best For: Brands looking for an integrated customer engagement platform (CEP) with robust email deliverability management capabilities. 2. Spamhaus Project The Spamhaus Project allows you to track spam, malware, phishing, and other cybersecurity threats. ISPs and email servers filter out unwanted and harmful content using Spamhaus’s DNS-based blocklists (DNSBLs). How Pricing Works: Spamhaus provides its blacklist data and lookup tools for free to most users, as part of their mission to combat spam. Best For: Quickly checking if your domain or IP is on major spam blacklists. 3. MxToolbox You can use MxToolbox to check if your domain is mentioned on any email blocklists. It scans your domain for mail servers, DNS records, web servers, and any problems. While comprehensive in its checks, this domain reputation checker doesn’t provide the same level of integrated deliverability management and analytics that a platform like MoEngage offers. How Pricing Works: MxToolbox offers both free tools and paid subscription plans with more advanced features, with pricing starting from around $85 per month. Best For: Performing a broad check across numerous email blacklists.   How to Improve Your Email Domain Reputation So, your domain email reputation doesn’t look as shiny as you’d like? No worries! Here are concrete steps you can take to improve it. Think of it as spring cleaning for your email sending practices. 1. Manage a Clean Email List Email list management is foundational. Regularly prune inactive subscribers, remove bounced addresses, and promptly honor unsubscribe requests. Implement a double opt-in process to ensure subscribers genuinely want to hear from you. A clean, engaged email list signals to mailbox providers that you’re sending to interested recipients, and reduces bounce rates and spam complaints. It’s crucial for a positive email sender reputation score. 2. Send Confirmation Emails with Double Opt-Ins Include double opt-ins where you send automated confirmation emails to subscribers. This helps you distinguish valid email addresses from nonexistent ones. Basically, protecting your email sender reputation is easy when you adhere to best practices. Ensuring that your email messages are engaging and interesting helps you get more clicks and open rates. Attracting more interaction to your email messages sends a signal to mailbox providers that you have a legitimate and professional organization. Increasing the positive activities and reviews will help build and solidify your branding strategy, sending a message that is relatable and understood by your subscribers. 3. Pause Violating Campaigns Notice a sudden spike in bounces or spam complaints after a particular email marketing campaign? Pause the campaign immediately to investigate the cause. Ideally, you should not send transactional and non-transactional emails from the same domain (domain/IP set). If the compliance requirements are met, there is no need to pause transactional emails. However, you should pause all one-time emails. Continuing to send problematic emails will only further damage your email sending reputation. Addressing the issue swiftly demonstrates responsibility to mailbox providers. 4. Correct the Mistakes Once you’ve paused a problematic campaign, take the time to understand what went wrong. Did you use a purchased list? Was the content or subject line misleading? (In which case, you need to have a list of the best email subject lines handy). Identify the root cause and implement corrective measures so it doesn’t happen again. Showing that you learn from your mistakes helps rebuild trust with mailbox providers over time. Then, raise a ticket to Gmail or other ESP explaining the cause behind the reputation issues, your changes, and the next steps you plan to follow. Have checkpoints to detect issues immediately, so you can always stay on top of them. 5. Use Subdomains for Sending Emails Establish a subdomain you’re going to use only for sending emails to customers. That’s because if anything goes wrong, the subdomain will take the hit directly, while mildly affecting your company’s main registered domain. It’s like a backup. Also, hopefully, your customers will remember and recognize your subdomain with time. So even if your emails do land in the spam folder, customers might mark them as ‘Not spam’. Yay! 6. Resume and Ramp Up Your Email Frequency After addressing the issues and making necessary changes, don’t be afraid to resume sending. But take baby steps. Resume your transactional emails first. Don’t send transactional and promotional emails from the same domains and IPs. If you already have, separate them while correcting your email setup. Next, resume your personalized event-triggered campaigns. Then, slowly send one-time campaigns to email openers and clickers (such as emails that have been opened 5 times in the last 60 days). Send at a lower RPM and send only 2-3 campaigns per week. After the email domain reputation improves, gradually increase the overall sending frequency and volume (it could take 6-8 weeks). When emailing non-engaged customers, slowly raise your email frequency to prevent sudden volume spikes from triggering spam filters. This careful approach communicates to mailbox providers that you are a responsible sender. 7. Customize Your Sending Patterns Avoid sending all your emails at the same time to everyone on your list. Segment your audience and tailor your sending schedules based on their engagement and time zones. This shows mailbox providers that you’re sending relevant content to the right customers at the right time, improving engagement and your overall email marketing domain reputation. Create lifecycle campaigns to engage your customers. Use dynamic segments, so inactive customers get dropped off automatically. Implement personalization across every aspect of your email.   Maintaining Email Domain Reputation with MoEngage Maintaining a stellar email domain reputation is an ongoing effort, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Hundreds of B2C brands trust MoEngage to provide the insights and tools they need to monitor deliverability, understand audience engagement, and proactively manage their sending practices. By leveraging the platform’s analytics and segmentation capabilities, our customers can be sure their emails consistently land in the inbox, where they belong. Ready to take control of your email deliverability and build a rock-solid email sender reputation? Explore MoEngage’s comprehensive email marketing solutions. Or better yet, request a demo to see MoEngage’s email solutions in action today. The post How to Check and Fix Your Email Sender Reputation appeared first on MoEngage.
    0 Комментарии ·0 Поделились ·0 предпросмотр
  • The Best Memorial Day Tech Deals Under $50: Cameras, Earbuds, and More

    Table of ContentsEarbud DealsStreaming Device DealsSecurity Camera DealsComputer Mouse DealsSpeaker DealsWi-Fi Extender DealsWebcam DealsMicrophone DealsGaming Controller DealsSpeaker DealsThermostat DealsHeadphone DealsVideo Doorbell Deals

    Memorial Day deals are popping up everywhere, and for under we've found some surprisingly solid picks for you. Whether you need a spare pair of earbuds, a portable charger, or smart home basics, now’s a great time to stock up without stretching your budget. These limited-time offers cover both name-brand gear and underrated gems, but inventory tends to move fast when prices dip this low. Don’t wait for the holiday weekend since many of the best bargains may already be gone by then. Here are a few standout picks under worth grabbing.Don't forget to check out our round-up of theBest Memorial Day tech sales for all of the best deals out there.Earbud DealsThe Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds offer a surprisingly solid mix of rich audio, effective ANC, and a highly customizable app, all for a 44% discount. The companion app lets you tweak the EQ and controls and even set a personalized sound profile. Meanwhile, a solid battery life and secure fit make them great for workouts or commutes. As expert Tim Gideon said in our 2022 review, “The Anker Soundcore Space A40 in-ears deliver a natural audio experience and solid ANC for the price.” Rated “Excellent” and crowned as an Editors' Choice winner, these earbuds punch way above their price range.You can also score this Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds on Walmart for Streaming Device DealsThe Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is a fantastic upgrade for your old TV if you want smooth, fast streaming on the cheap. It delivers snappy performance, quick Alexa responses, and a wide range of apps, all while keeping the price under Wi-Fi 6 ensures more stable connections, especially in busy households. Navigating apps feels seamless, and switching between them is nearly instant. Our resident expert, Will Greenwald, said, "Everything I watched, from Prime Video to Crunchyroll to Twitch, played within seconds and looked crisp and vibrant." With an "Outstanding" rating in our Fire TV Stick 4K review and the Editors' Choice award, this is an easy recommendation.Security Camera DealsThe Blink Mini 2 is a small, affordable indoor security camera that works like a charm, especially if you're in the Alexa ecosystem. Setup is a breeze, and once it’s running, you get crisp daytime video and smooth motion alerts without any hassle. The color night vision is a nice touch if you’ve got the spotlight enabled. Our expert, John R. Delaney notes, “Motion alerts arrived instantly and two-way talk came through loud and clear,” and rated it “Good” in our Blink Mini 2 review. It’s not overloaded with extras, but for quick checks on your space, especially through an Echo Show, it’s super handy and doesn’t break the bank at just under 20 bucks.The TP-Link Tapo C120 is a steal for under This little camera does so much more than its price tag would lead you to believe, with sharp 2K video, color night vision, and built-in spotlights that light up your yard when motion’s detected. It’s weatherproof, so you can stick it indoors or outdoors, and the setup is a breeze. The motion detection is smart, too, distinguishing between people, pets, and vehicles, which cuts down on false alerts. In 2023, our expert points out in our TP-Link Tapo C120 review that the camera “is loaded with features usually only found on more expensive models.” That’s why it received an “Outstanding” rating and also became the Editors’ Choice winner. If you want a budget-friendly cam that doesn’t skimp, this is it.Computer Mouse DealsThe Logitech POP is a wireless mouse that comes in some quirky colors such as "Heartbreaker Rose" and "Daydream Mint," making it way more interesting than your usual plain-looking beige or black clicker. For some added fun, you can assign your favorite emoji to a shortcut button through its software. It’s also comfortable to use, lasts up to two years on a single battery, and lets you switch control among three devices easily. Reviewer and analyst Zackery Cuevas says, “It’s a surprisingly versatile device that hops between multiple connections with ease and offers some light customization,” rating it at “Good” in our 2022 Logitech POP Mouse review. With the current sale price of it’s a solid deal if you want something that's perkier-looking and more functional than your everyday mouse.Speaker DealsThe Amazon Echo Pop is a great way to add Alexa to a smaller room without spending much. It nails the basics like music, smart home controls, weather, timers, and more. You can operate all these functions with voice commands, and its compact design blends in easily. It even works as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender, which is super handy. Don’t expect deep bass, but for casual listening, it's solid. As PCMag's Will Greenwald notes, “It delivers a decent, well-balanced sound for its size.” The Echo Pop earned an “Excellent” rating in our review, and if you're just getting started with smart speakers, this one makes a strong case for itself.Recommended by Our EditorsWi-Fi Extender DealsThe TP-Link RE600X is a little Wi-Fi extender that’s easy to use. Just plug it in, connect via the app, and you’re good to go. It boosts your 5GHz speeds to 400Mbps close up and still delivers 196Mbps at 40 feet, which is great for streaming in dead zones. As our expert said in our review, “The RE600X offers a relatively affordable way to boost Wi-Fi 6 signal strength in your home.” It’s not the smallest or most feature-packed extender, but with a titanic 50% discount, it’s a reliable fix for spotty Wi-Fi. Overall, it’s a good pick for basic coverage needs.Webcam DealsThe Creative Live! Cam Sync 1080p V2 gives you noticeably brighter and sharper video for Zoom calls or streaming, and the audio holds up surprisingly well. You don’t even need extra lights since your face stays visible even in dim rooms. As our expert mentioned in his “Excellent” rated Live! Cam Sync review in 2021, the webcam “offers a nice upgrade in video call quality over your computer's built-in webcam.” It’s plug-and-play, comes with a privacy shutter, and works just fine for basic everyday use.Microphone DealsThe Razer Seiren Mini is a simple-to-use microphone for streaming or podcasting that actually sounds really good. It’s compact, easy to set up, and the audio comes through surprisingly clear and warm, especially when you position it close enough. You might want to prop it up on a few books, but once it’s at mouth level, it really shines. As our expert Tim Gideon puts it, “There’s more warmth here and less room sound than the Snowball Ice provides.” Rated “Good” overall in our 2020 Seiren Mini review, it’s a great way to upgrade your setup without spending a lot at today's sale price of You can also grab this Razer Seiren Mini microphone on Walmart for Gaming Controller DealsIf you bounce between a Switch and a PC, the 8Bitdo Pro 2 just makes life easier. The grip feels natural, the buttons have that nice clicky feedback, and switching between device profiles is super quick. As PCMag's Will Greenwald puts it, “Whatever system you use it with, the Pro 2 simply feels very good to use.” That’s why it earned an “Outstanding” rating and the 2021 Editors’ Choice award in our 8Bitdo Pro 2 review. Honestly, for under there's no better time to buy.Speaker DealsThe Sony SRS-XB100 offers rich, crisp sound for its compact size, making it a standout among portable Bluetooth speakers. Its fully dust-tight and waterproof design ensures durability and reliability in various environments. The speaker also features a clear speakerphone mic, enhancing its functionality for calls on the go. In our 2023 SRS-XB100 review, the expert states, "It's easy to recommend if you want a compact, waterproof speaker that pumps out robust, detailed sound." That's why we gave it an "Excellent" rating. Its compact, adventure-ready design and enhanced sound quality make it a valuable choice for music lovers at just under You can also get this Sony SRS-XB100 Speaker at Walmart for The JBL Go 3 speaker is small enough to clip onto a bag or drop into a pocket, making it a great choice for travel and outdoor use. The waterproof build handles splashes and showers with ease. Vocals and highs come through crisp and clear, while bass is limited but present enough to keep tracks sounding full. It reaches impressive volume levels without distortion. As our audio expert Tim Gideon says, “For you can't expect audio fireworks, but the JBL Go 3 certainly gets the job done, with clean, relatively loud mono audio from its compact frame." With an “Excellent” rating in our 2020 JBL Go 3 review and rugged design, it’s difficult to find anything better at this sale price of You can also grab the JBL Go 3 on Walmart for Thermostat DealsControl the temperature in your house with the Amazon smart programmable thermostat. This highly affordable device supports Alexa voice commands and has a smartphone app. That means you can dial up or down the heat without leaving your bed. Plus, it integrates well with Amazon smart home solutions, making a complete ecosystem for your house. It also reports the energy usage so you can make smart decisions to cut off your electricity bill. It earns an "Excellent" rating in our review, in which our expert states, "Amazon Smart Thermostat is a solid option that also happens to be the least expensive model we've tested." The current 29% discount makes it judicious to bring the thermostat home.Headphone DealsThe Razer Blackshark V2 is a wired headset that nails gaming audio without wrecking your wallet. It's super lightweight, stays comfy during long sessions, and the THX Spatial Audio gives you that "where-the-heck-did-that-shot-come-from" edge in shooters. You can tweak everything through the Razer Synapse app, but honestly, the mic sounds crisp even without adjustments. As Will Greenwald puts it, “the microphone on the Blackshark V2 sounds excellent,” and it is proven in our tests. For only, this thing is stacked. It scored an “Outstanding” rating and even snagged the Editors’ Choice award in our 2020 Razer Blackshark V2 review, which tells you all you need to know.Video Doorbell DealsThe Blink Video Doorbell + Sync Module 2 is an affordable and versatile home security solution, offering both wired and wireless installation options. It integrates seamlessly with Amazon Alexa, allowing easy control and monitoring. The device delivers sharp 1080p video, impressive image quality with rich daytime colors, and clear night vision. Installation is straightforward, and it includes a range of mounting accessories. The Sync Module 2 extends battery life and provides local storage options, supporting up to 10 Blink cameras. Additionally, two-way audio is loud and clear, enhancing communication with visitors. Scan through our Blink Video Doorbell review to learn more about its pros and cons.We’re finding Memorial Day Deals everywhere, from retailers like Amazon and Walmart to top brands like Apple and HP. And don’t forget to check out all of the Memorial Day Deals Under and Under  But, if you’re looking for something more specific, we’ve rounded up the following holiday deals for you:
    #best #memorial #day #tech #deals
    The Best Memorial Day Tech Deals Under $50: Cameras, Earbuds, and More
    Table of ContentsEarbud DealsStreaming Device DealsSecurity Camera DealsComputer Mouse DealsSpeaker DealsWi-Fi Extender DealsWebcam DealsMicrophone DealsGaming Controller DealsSpeaker DealsThermostat DealsHeadphone DealsVideo Doorbell Deals Memorial Day deals are popping up everywhere, and for under we've found some surprisingly solid picks for you. Whether you need a spare pair of earbuds, a portable charger, or smart home basics, now’s a great time to stock up without stretching your budget. These limited-time offers cover both name-brand gear and underrated gems, but inventory tends to move fast when prices dip this low. Don’t wait for the holiday weekend since many of the best bargains may already be gone by then. Here are a few standout picks under worth grabbing.Don't forget to check out our round-up of theBest Memorial Day tech sales for all of the best deals out there.Earbud DealsThe Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds offer a surprisingly solid mix of rich audio, effective ANC, and a highly customizable app, all for a 44% discount. The companion app lets you tweak the EQ and controls and even set a personalized sound profile. Meanwhile, a solid battery life and secure fit make them great for workouts or commutes. As expert Tim Gideon said in our 2022 review, “The Anker Soundcore Space A40 in-ears deliver a natural audio experience and solid ANC for the price.” Rated “Excellent” and crowned as an Editors' Choice winner, these earbuds punch way above their price range.You can also score this Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds on Walmart for Streaming Device DealsThe Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is a fantastic upgrade for your old TV if you want smooth, fast streaming on the cheap. It delivers snappy performance, quick Alexa responses, and a wide range of apps, all while keeping the price under Wi-Fi 6 ensures more stable connections, especially in busy households. Navigating apps feels seamless, and switching between them is nearly instant. Our resident expert, Will Greenwald, said, "Everything I watched, from Prime Video to Crunchyroll to Twitch, played within seconds and looked crisp and vibrant." With an "Outstanding" rating in our Fire TV Stick 4K review and the Editors' Choice award, this is an easy recommendation.Security Camera DealsThe Blink Mini 2 is a small, affordable indoor security camera that works like a charm, especially if you're in the Alexa ecosystem. Setup is a breeze, and once it’s running, you get crisp daytime video and smooth motion alerts without any hassle. The color night vision is a nice touch if you’ve got the spotlight enabled. Our expert, John R. Delaney notes, “Motion alerts arrived instantly and two-way talk came through loud and clear,” and rated it “Good” in our Blink Mini 2 review. It’s not overloaded with extras, but for quick checks on your space, especially through an Echo Show, it’s super handy and doesn’t break the bank at just under 20 bucks.The TP-Link Tapo C120 is a steal for under This little camera does so much more than its price tag would lead you to believe, with sharp 2K video, color night vision, and built-in spotlights that light up your yard when motion’s detected. It’s weatherproof, so you can stick it indoors or outdoors, and the setup is a breeze. The motion detection is smart, too, distinguishing between people, pets, and vehicles, which cuts down on false alerts. In 2023, our expert points out in our TP-Link Tapo C120 review that the camera “is loaded with features usually only found on more expensive models.” That’s why it received an “Outstanding” rating and also became the Editors’ Choice winner. If you want a budget-friendly cam that doesn’t skimp, this is it.Computer Mouse DealsThe Logitech POP is a wireless mouse that comes in some quirky colors such as "Heartbreaker Rose" and "Daydream Mint," making it way more interesting than your usual plain-looking beige or black clicker. For some added fun, you can assign your favorite emoji to a shortcut button through its software. It’s also comfortable to use, lasts up to two years on a single battery, and lets you switch control among three devices easily. Reviewer and analyst Zackery Cuevas says, “It’s a surprisingly versatile device that hops between multiple connections with ease and offers some light customization,” rating it at “Good” in our 2022 Logitech POP Mouse review. With the current sale price of it’s a solid deal if you want something that's perkier-looking and more functional than your everyday mouse.Speaker DealsThe Amazon Echo Pop is a great way to add Alexa to a smaller room without spending much. It nails the basics like music, smart home controls, weather, timers, and more. You can operate all these functions with voice commands, and its compact design blends in easily. It even works as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender, which is super handy. Don’t expect deep bass, but for casual listening, it's solid. As PCMag's Will Greenwald notes, “It delivers a decent, well-balanced sound for its size.” The Echo Pop earned an “Excellent” rating in our review, and if you're just getting started with smart speakers, this one makes a strong case for itself.Recommended by Our EditorsWi-Fi Extender DealsThe TP-Link RE600X is a little Wi-Fi extender that’s easy to use. Just plug it in, connect via the app, and you’re good to go. It boosts your 5GHz speeds to 400Mbps close up and still delivers 196Mbps at 40 feet, which is great for streaming in dead zones. As our expert said in our review, “The RE600X offers a relatively affordable way to boost Wi-Fi 6 signal strength in your home.” It’s not the smallest or most feature-packed extender, but with a titanic 50% discount, it’s a reliable fix for spotty Wi-Fi. Overall, it’s a good pick for basic coverage needs.Webcam DealsThe Creative Live! Cam Sync 1080p V2 gives you noticeably brighter and sharper video for Zoom calls or streaming, and the audio holds up surprisingly well. You don’t even need extra lights since your face stays visible even in dim rooms. As our expert mentioned in his “Excellent” rated Live! Cam Sync review in 2021, the webcam “offers a nice upgrade in video call quality over your computer's built-in webcam.” It’s plug-and-play, comes with a privacy shutter, and works just fine for basic everyday use.Microphone DealsThe Razer Seiren Mini is a simple-to-use microphone for streaming or podcasting that actually sounds really good. It’s compact, easy to set up, and the audio comes through surprisingly clear and warm, especially when you position it close enough. You might want to prop it up on a few books, but once it’s at mouth level, it really shines. As our expert Tim Gideon puts it, “There’s more warmth here and less room sound than the Snowball Ice provides.” Rated “Good” overall in our 2020 Seiren Mini review, it’s a great way to upgrade your setup without spending a lot at today's sale price of You can also grab this Razer Seiren Mini microphone on Walmart for Gaming Controller DealsIf you bounce between a Switch and a PC, the 8Bitdo Pro 2 just makes life easier. The grip feels natural, the buttons have that nice clicky feedback, and switching between device profiles is super quick. As PCMag's Will Greenwald puts it, “Whatever system you use it with, the Pro 2 simply feels very good to use.” That’s why it earned an “Outstanding” rating and the 2021 Editors’ Choice award in our 8Bitdo Pro 2 review. Honestly, for under there's no better time to buy.Speaker DealsThe Sony SRS-XB100 offers rich, crisp sound for its compact size, making it a standout among portable Bluetooth speakers. Its fully dust-tight and waterproof design ensures durability and reliability in various environments. The speaker also features a clear speakerphone mic, enhancing its functionality for calls on the go. In our 2023 SRS-XB100 review, the expert states, "It's easy to recommend if you want a compact, waterproof speaker that pumps out robust, detailed sound." That's why we gave it an "Excellent" rating. Its compact, adventure-ready design and enhanced sound quality make it a valuable choice for music lovers at just under You can also get this Sony SRS-XB100 Speaker at Walmart for The JBL Go 3 speaker is small enough to clip onto a bag or drop into a pocket, making it a great choice for travel and outdoor use. The waterproof build handles splashes and showers with ease. Vocals and highs come through crisp and clear, while bass is limited but present enough to keep tracks sounding full. It reaches impressive volume levels without distortion. As our audio expert Tim Gideon says, “For you can't expect audio fireworks, but the JBL Go 3 certainly gets the job done, with clean, relatively loud mono audio from its compact frame." With an “Excellent” rating in our 2020 JBL Go 3 review and rugged design, it’s difficult to find anything better at this sale price of You can also grab the JBL Go 3 on Walmart for Thermostat DealsControl the temperature in your house with the Amazon smart programmable thermostat. This highly affordable device supports Alexa voice commands and has a smartphone app. That means you can dial up or down the heat without leaving your bed. Plus, it integrates well with Amazon smart home solutions, making a complete ecosystem for your house. It also reports the energy usage so you can make smart decisions to cut off your electricity bill. It earns an "Excellent" rating in our review, in which our expert states, "Amazon Smart Thermostat is a solid option that also happens to be the least expensive model we've tested." The current 29% discount makes it judicious to bring the thermostat home.Headphone DealsThe Razer Blackshark V2 is a wired headset that nails gaming audio without wrecking your wallet. It's super lightweight, stays comfy during long sessions, and the THX Spatial Audio gives you that "where-the-heck-did-that-shot-come-from" edge in shooters. You can tweak everything through the Razer Synapse app, but honestly, the mic sounds crisp even without adjustments. As Will Greenwald puts it, “the microphone on the Blackshark V2 sounds excellent,” and it is proven in our tests. For only, this thing is stacked. It scored an “Outstanding” rating and even snagged the Editors’ Choice award in our 2020 Razer Blackshark V2 review, which tells you all you need to know.Video Doorbell DealsThe Blink Video Doorbell + Sync Module 2 is an affordable and versatile home security solution, offering both wired and wireless installation options. It integrates seamlessly with Amazon Alexa, allowing easy control and monitoring. The device delivers sharp 1080p video, impressive image quality with rich daytime colors, and clear night vision. Installation is straightforward, and it includes a range of mounting accessories. The Sync Module 2 extends battery life and provides local storage options, supporting up to 10 Blink cameras. Additionally, two-way audio is loud and clear, enhancing communication with visitors. Scan through our Blink Video Doorbell review to learn more about its pros and cons.We’re finding Memorial Day Deals everywhere, from retailers like Amazon and Walmart to top brands like Apple and HP. And don’t forget to check out all of the Memorial Day Deals Under and Under  But, if you’re looking for something more specific, we’ve rounded up the following holiday deals for you: #best #memorial #day #tech #deals
    The Best Memorial Day Tech Deals Under $50: Cameras, Earbuds, and More
    me.pcmag.com
    Table of ContentsEarbud DealsStreaming Device DealsSecurity Camera DealsComputer Mouse DealsSpeaker DealsWi-Fi Extender DealsWebcam DealsMicrophone DealsGaming Controller DealsSpeaker DealsThermostat DealsHeadphone DealsVideo Doorbell Deals Memorial Day deals are popping up everywhere, and for under $50, we've found some surprisingly solid picks for you. Whether you need a spare pair of earbuds, a portable charger, or smart home basics, now’s a great time to stock up without stretching your budget. These limited-time offers cover both name-brand gear and underrated gems, but inventory tends to move fast when prices dip this low. Don’t wait for the holiday weekend since many of the best bargains may already be gone by then. Here are a few standout picks under $50 worth grabbing.Don't forget to check out our round-up of theBest Memorial Day tech sales for all of the best deals out there.Earbud DealsThe Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds offer a surprisingly solid mix of rich audio, effective ANC, and a highly customizable app, all for a 44% discount. The companion app lets you tweak the EQ and controls and even set a personalized sound profile. Meanwhile, a solid battery life and secure fit make them great for workouts or commutes. As expert Tim Gideon said in our 2022 review, “The Anker Soundcore Space A40 in-ears deliver a natural audio experience and solid ANC for the price.” Rated “Excellent” and crowned as an Editors' Choice winner, these earbuds punch way above their price range.You can also score this Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds on Walmart for $44.99.Streaming Device DealsThe Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is a fantastic upgrade for your old TV if you want smooth, fast streaming on the cheap. It delivers snappy performance, quick Alexa responses, and a wide range of apps, all while keeping the price under $30. Wi-Fi 6 ensures more stable connections, especially in busy households. Navigating apps feels seamless, and switching between them is nearly instant. Our resident expert, Will Greenwald, said, "Everything I watched, from Prime Video to Crunchyroll to Twitch, played within seconds and looked crisp and vibrant." With an "Outstanding" rating in our Fire TV Stick 4K review and the Editors' Choice award, this is an easy recommendation.Security Camera DealsThe Blink Mini 2 is a small, affordable indoor security camera that works like a charm, especially if you're in the Alexa ecosystem. Setup is a breeze, and once it’s running, you get crisp daytime video and smooth motion alerts without any hassle. The color night vision is a nice touch if you’ve got the spotlight enabled. Our expert, John R. Delaney notes, “Motion alerts arrived instantly and two-way talk came through loud and clear,” and rated it “Good” in our Blink Mini 2 review. It’s not overloaded with extras, but for quick checks on your space, especially through an Echo Show, it’s super handy and doesn’t break the bank at just under 20 bucks.The TP-Link Tapo C120 is a steal for under $25. This little camera does so much more than its price tag would lead you to believe, with sharp 2K video, color night vision, and built-in spotlights that light up your yard when motion’s detected. It’s weatherproof, so you can stick it indoors or outdoors, and the setup is a breeze. The motion detection is smart, too, distinguishing between people, pets, and vehicles, which cuts down on false alerts. In 2023, our expert points out in our TP-Link Tapo C120 review that the camera “is loaded with features usually only found on more expensive models.” That’s why it received an “Outstanding” rating and also became the Editors’ Choice winner. If you want a budget-friendly cam that doesn’t skimp, this is it.Computer Mouse DealsThe Logitech POP is a wireless mouse that comes in some quirky colors such as "Heartbreaker Rose" and "Daydream Mint," making it way more interesting than your usual plain-looking beige or black clicker (though ordinary colors are an option, too). For some added fun, you can assign your favorite emoji to a shortcut button through its software. It’s also comfortable to use, lasts up to two years on a single battery, and lets you switch control among three devices easily. Reviewer and analyst Zackery Cuevas says, “It’s a surprisingly versatile device that hops between multiple connections with ease and offers some light customization,” rating it at “Good” in our 2022 Logitech POP Mouse review. With the current sale price of $29, it’s a solid deal if you want something that's perkier-looking and more functional than your everyday mouse.Speaker DealsThe Amazon Echo Pop is a great way to add Alexa to a smaller room without spending much (just $25 today). It nails the basics like music, smart home controls, weather, timers, and more. You can operate all these functions with voice commands, and its compact design blends in easily. It even works as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender, which is super handy. Don’t expect deep bass, but for casual listening, it's solid. As PCMag's Will Greenwald notes, “It delivers a decent, well-balanced sound for its size.” The Echo Pop earned an “Excellent” rating in our review, and if you're just getting started with smart speakers, this one makes a strong case for itself.Recommended by Our EditorsWi-Fi Extender DealsThe TP-Link RE600X is a little Wi-Fi extender that’s easy to use. Just plug it in, connect via the app, and you’re good to go. It boosts your 5GHz speeds to 400Mbps close up and still delivers 196Mbps at 40 feet, which is great for streaming in dead zones. As our expert said in our review, “The RE600X offers a relatively affordable way to boost Wi-Fi 6 signal strength in your home.” It’s not the smallest or most feature-packed extender, but with a titanic 50% discount, it’s a reliable fix for spotty Wi-Fi. Overall, it’s a good pick for basic coverage needs.Webcam DealsThe Creative Live! Cam Sync 1080p V2 gives you noticeably brighter and sharper video for Zoom calls or streaming, and the audio holds up surprisingly well. You don’t even need extra lights since your face stays visible even in dim rooms. As our expert mentioned in his “Excellent” rated Live! Cam Sync review in 2021, the webcam “offers a nice upgrade in video call quality over your computer's built-in webcam.” It’s plug-and-play, comes with a privacy shutter, and works just fine for basic everyday use.Microphone DealsThe Razer Seiren Mini is a simple-to-use microphone for streaming or podcasting that actually sounds really good. It’s compact, easy to set up, and the audio comes through surprisingly clear and warm, especially when you position it close enough. You might want to prop it up on a few books, but once it’s at mouth level, it really shines. As our expert Tim Gideon puts it, “There’s more warmth here and less room sound than the Snowball Ice provides.” Rated “Good” overall in our 2020 Seiren Mini review, it’s a great way to upgrade your setup without spending a lot at today's sale price of $35.You can also grab this Razer Seiren Mini microphone on Walmart for $36.44.Gaming Controller DealsIf you bounce between a Switch and a PC, the 8Bitdo Pro 2 just makes life easier. The grip feels natural, the buttons have that nice clicky feedback, and switching between device profiles is super quick. As PCMag's Will Greenwald puts it, “Whatever system you use it with, the Pro 2 simply feels very good to use.” That’s why it earned an “Outstanding” rating and the 2021 Editors’ Choice award in our 8Bitdo Pro 2 review. Honestly, for under $40, there's no better time to buy.Speaker DealsThe Sony SRS-XB100 offers rich, crisp sound for its compact size, making it a standout among portable Bluetooth speakers. Its fully dust-tight and waterproof design ensures durability and reliability in various environments. The speaker also features a clear speakerphone mic, enhancing its functionality for calls on the go. In our 2023 SRS-XB100 review, the expert states, "It's easy to recommend if you want a compact, waterproof speaker that pumps out robust, detailed sound." That's why we gave it an "Excellent" rating. Its compact, adventure-ready design and enhanced sound quality make it a valuable choice for music lovers at just under $40.You can also get this Sony SRS-XB100 Speaker at Walmart for $39.99.The JBL Go 3 speaker is small enough to clip onto a bag or drop into a pocket, making it a great choice for travel and outdoor use. The waterproof build handles splashes and showers with ease. Vocals and highs come through crisp and clear, while bass is limited but present enough to keep tracks sounding full. It reaches impressive volume levels without distortion. As our audio expert Tim Gideon says, “For $40, you can't expect audio fireworks, but the JBL Go 3 certainly gets the job done, with clean, relatively loud mono audio from its compact frame." With an “Excellent” rating in our 2020 JBL Go 3 review and rugged design, it’s difficult to find anything better at this sale price of $30.You can also grab the JBL Go 3 on Walmart for $29.95.Thermostat DealsControl the temperature in your house with the Amazon smart programmable thermostat. This highly affordable device supports Alexa voice commands and has a smartphone app. That means you can dial up or down the heat without leaving your bed. Plus, it integrates well with Amazon smart home solutions, making a complete ecosystem for your house. It also reports the energy usage so you can make smart decisions to cut off your electricity bill. It earns an "Excellent" rating in our review, in which our expert states, "Amazon Smart Thermostat is a solid option that also happens to be the least expensive model we've tested." The current 29% discount makes it judicious to bring the thermostat home.Headphone DealsThe Razer Blackshark V2 is a wired headset that nails gaming audio without wrecking your wallet. It's super lightweight, stays comfy during long sessions, and the THX Spatial Audio gives you that "where-the-heck-did-that-shot-come-from" edge in shooters. You can tweak everything through the Razer Synapse app, but honestly, the mic sounds crisp even without adjustments. As Will Greenwald puts it, “the microphone on the Blackshark V2 sounds excellent,” and it is proven in our tests. For $37 only, this thing is stacked. It scored an “Outstanding” rating and even snagged the Editors’ Choice award in our 2020 Razer Blackshark V2 review, which tells you all you need to know.Video Doorbell DealsThe Blink Video Doorbell + Sync Module 2 is an affordable and versatile home security solution, offering both wired and wireless installation options. It integrates seamlessly with Amazon Alexa, allowing easy control and monitoring. The device delivers sharp 1080p video, impressive image quality with rich daytime colors, and clear night vision. Installation is straightforward, and it includes a range of mounting accessories. The Sync Module 2 extends battery life and provides local storage options, supporting up to 10 Blink cameras. Additionally, two-way audio is loud and clear, enhancing communication with visitors. Scan through our Blink Video Doorbell review to learn more about its pros and cons.We’re finding Memorial Day Deals everywhere, from retailers like Amazon and Walmart to top brands like Apple and HP. And don’t forget to check out all of the Memorial Day Deals Under $100 and Under $50. But, if you’re looking for something more specific, we’ve rounded up the following holiday deals for you:
    0 Комментарии ·0 Поделились ·0 предпросмотр
  • Nintendo Download: 22nd May (North America)

    Touch, I remember touch

    Power Sink- Set in the ruins of a submerged power station, Power Sink blends classic platforming with clever logic-based puzzles as players take on the role of a Diver sent to restore power to a fading underwater colony.
    Project Zombie- Project Zombie is a survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world, where players must push their physical and mental limits in a constant fight for life. In a world overrun by zombies, quick decisions, clever strategies, and cooperation with other survivors make the difference between life and death.
    Sauna of the DEAD- Step into the world's most unusual sauna game and become a legendary Aufguss Maestro. We believe you have what it takes to be the best heat-bringer in the underworld! Purify zombies in a sauna from hell!
    Soccer Golf!- Do you love soccer? Do you love golf? Tee off and kickoff in SoccerGolf, a brilliant and challenging new physics game which seamlessly combines your two favorite sports. Choose from 54 challenging levels with 3 unique themes, and get ready for increased obstacles, hazards, and difficulty.
    Starlight Legacy- Return to the style of 16-bit JRPGs in Starlight Legacy, a non-linear adventure inspired by genre classics! Set in a post-medieval world in the Evaria Kingdom, explore a vast kingdom created with lush 2D pixel art, a nostalgic turn-based battle system and non-linear story where the four provinces of the kingdom can be explored in any order of your choosing.
    STEAM-HEART’S Saturn Tribute- The return of a hardcore and sexy sci-fi vertical scrolling shooter! Players can obtain and power up two types of main shots and six types of sub-weapons. Utilize special techniques such as the "Weapon Crash", which temporarily boosts sub-weapons, and the "Boost" ability, which lets you momentarily accelerate to dodge enemy attacks. Master these skills to suppress the oncoming enemies!
    Super Waifu Ball- Super Waifu Ball is an arcade-style adventure where you roll through colorful, obstacle-filled worlds as a cast of adorable waifus. Complete levels, collect stars, and unlock collectible waifu figurines from the gacha machine!
    Tavern Owner Simulator- Welcome to Tavern Owner Simulator, where your dream of managing a medieval pub becomes reality. Step into the shoes of a tavern proprietor and transform a modest establishment into the most popular spot in town. With a mix of strategic planning, creative design, and savvy management, you’ll turn your tiny tavern into a bustling hub of activity.
    The Operator- Welcome to the FDI. As our newest Operator, your role is to use your detective skills to assist our field agents and investigate mysterious crimes. Use cutting-edge FDI software to dig for clues, solve puzzles, and uncover the truth.
    The Town of Nie Iromusubi- "The Town of Nie Iromusubi", a fan-disc of the strange and eerie otherworldly BL fantasy "The Town of Nie. "Weaving together extraordinary colors.
    Trident’s Tale- Set sail for an epic action-packed adventure in Trident’s Tale, where you’ll become Ocean, a bold young captain on a quest to reclaim the legendary Storm Trident—a mythical artifact that grants power over the seas. But beware the ocean is vast, treacherous, and crawling with danger at every turn!
    Weirdo- Parallel-Weirdo is a Japanese manga-style visual novel set in DYL High School. It follows Wang Zhe, an ordinary and frail boy, who tries to win the hearts of girls and complete

    What will you be downloading this week?A Bibelot: Tiret sur Will  0%ADVANCED V.G. Saturn Tribute2%Arcade Archives NebulasRay5%Casual Sport Series: Badminton  0%Cats Visiting Fairy Tales  0%Cattle Country3%Cipheur  0%Cookie Clicker8%Cozy Winter  0%Digger Simulator: Gold Rush  0%Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping8%Eggconsole Hydlide Ii Msx2%Extreme! 2-Choice Flag Quiz  0%Food Truck Business Simulator  0%Genopanic  0%Ghost Room Deep  0%Knight's Night!  0%Legends Aligned: Minis in Conflict  0%Merge Numbers  0%Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Battle Destiny Remastered3%Monster Train 28%Mudness Offroad Car Simulator Runner  0%Not Not 2 - A Brain Challenge2%Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny6%Pancho's Mission  0%Pick Race 3D  0%Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo19%Planeta 55  0%Please, Touch The Artwork 25%Power Sink3%Project Zombie  0%Sauna of the DEAD  0%Soccer Golf!  0%Starlight Legacy3%STEAM-HEART'S Saturn Tribute2%Super Waifu Ball2%Tavern Owner Simulator  0%The Operator  0%The Town of Nie Iromusubi  0%Trident's Tale  0%Weirdo  0%Nothing for me this week21%

    So that's your lot for this week's North American Nintendo Download. Go on, be a sport and drop a vote in the poll above, and comment below with your hot picks!

    Related Games
    See Also
    #nintendo #download #22nd #north #america
    Nintendo Download: 22nd May (North America)
    Touch, I remember touch Power Sink- Set in the ruins of a submerged power station, Power Sink blends classic platforming with clever logic-based puzzles as players take on the role of a Diver sent to restore power to a fading underwater colony. Project Zombie- Project Zombie is a survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world, where players must push their physical and mental limits in a constant fight for life. In a world overrun by zombies, quick decisions, clever strategies, and cooperation with other survivors make the difference between life and death. Sauna of the DEAD- Step into the world's most unusual sauna game and become a legendary Aufguss Maestro. We believe you have what it takes to be the best heat-bringer in the underworld! Purify zombies in a sauna from hell! Soccer Golf!- Do you love soccer? Do you love golf? Tee off and kickoff in SoccerGolf, a brilliant and challenging new physics game which seamlessly combines your two favorite sports. Choose from 54 challenging levels with 3 unique themes, and get ready for increased obstacles, hazards, and difficulty. Starlight Legacy- Return to the style of 16-bit JRPGs in Starlight Legacy, a non-linear adventure inspired by genre classics! Set in a post-medieval world in the Evaria Kingdom, explore a vast kingdom created with lush 2D pixel art, a nostalgic turn-based battle system and non-linear story where the four provinces of the kingdom can be explored in any order of your choosing. STEAM-HEART’S Saturn Tribute- The return of a hardcore and sexy sci-fi vertical scrolling shooter! Players can obtain and power up two types of main shots and six types of sub-weapons. Utilize special techniques such as the "Weapon Crash", which temporarily boosts sub-weapons, and the "Boost" ability, which lets you momentarily accelerate to dodge enemy attacks. Master these skills to suppress the oncoming enemies! Super Waifu Ball- Super Waifu Ball is an arcade-style adventure where you roll through colorful, obstacle-filled worlds as a cast of adorable waifus. Complete levels, collect stars, and unlock collectible waifu figurines from the gacha machine! Tavern Owner Simulator- Welcome to Tavern Owner Simulator, where your dream of managing a medieval pub becomes reality. Step into the shoes of a tavern proprietor and transform a modest establishment into the most popular spot in town. With a mix of strategic planning, creative design, and savvy management, you’ll turn your tiny tavern into a bustling hub of activity. The Operator- Welcome to the FDI. As our newest Operator, your role is to use your detective skills to assist our field agents and investigate mysterious crimes. Use cutting-edge FDI software to dig for clues, solve puzzles, and uncover the truth. The Town of Nie Iromusubi- "The Town of Nie Iromusubi", a fan-disc of the strange and eerie otherworldly BL fantasy "The Town of Nie. "Weaving together extraordinary colors. Trident’s Tale- Set sail for an epic action-packed adventure in Trident’s Tale, where you’ll become Ocean, a bold young captain on a quest to reclaim the legendary Storm Trident—a mythical artifact that grants power over the seas. But beware the ocean is vast, treacherous, and crawling with danger at every turn! Weirdo- Parallel-Weirdo is a Japanese manga-style visual novel set in DYL High School. It follows Wang Zhe, an ordinary and frail boy, who tries to win the hearts of girls and complete What will you be downloading this week?A Bibelot: Tiret sur Will  0%ADVANCED V.G. Saturn Tribute2%Arcade Archives NebulasRay5%Casual Sport Series: Badminton  0%Cats Visiting Fairy Tales  0%Cattle Country3%Cipheur  0%Cookie Clicker8%Cozy Winter  0%Digger Simulator: Gold Rush  0%Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping8%Eggconsole Hydlide Ii Msx2%Extreme! 2-Choice Flag Quiz  0%Food Truck Business Simulator  0%Genopanic  0%Ghost Room Deep  0%Knight's Night!  0%Legends Aligned: Minis in Conflict  0%Merge Numbers  0%Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Battle Destiny Remastered3%Monster Train 28%Mudness Offroad Car Simulator Runner  0%Not Not 2 - A Brain Challenge2%Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny6%Pancho's Mission  0%Pick Race 3D  0%Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo19%Planeta 55  0%Please, Touch The Artwork 25%Power Sink3%Project Zombie  0%Sauna of the DEAD  0%Soccer Golf!  0%Starlight Legacy3%STEAM-HEART'S Saturn Tribute2%Super Waifu Ball2%Tavern Owner Simulator  0%The Operator  0%The Town of Nie Iromusubi  0%Trident's Tale  0%Weirdo  0%Nothing for me this week21% So that's your lot for this week's North American Nintendo Download. Go on, be a sport and drop a vote in the poll above, and comment below with your hot picks! Related Games See Also #nintendo #download #22nd #north #america
    Nintendo Download: 22nd May (North America)
    www.nintendolife.com
    Touch, I remember touch Power Sink (Winterwire Games, 22nd May, $14.99) - Set in the ruins of a submerged power station, Power Sink blends classic platforming with clever logic-based puzzles as players take on the role of a Diver sent to restore power to a fading underwater colony. Project Zombie (XenoXeno, 24th May, $12.99) - Project Zombie is a survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world, where players must push their physical and mental limits in a constant fight for life. In a world overrun by zombies, quick decisions, clever strategies, and cooperation with other survivors make the difference between life and death. Sauna of the DEAD (KAMIICHI DIGITAL, 22nd May, $7.99) - Step into the world's most unusual sauna game and become a legendary Aufguss Maestro. We believe you have what it takes to be the best heat-bringer in the underworld! Purify zombies in a sauna from hell! Soccer Golf! (Ratalaika Games, 23rd May, $4.99) - Do you love soccer? Do you love golf? Tee off and kickoff in SoccerGolf, a brilliant and challenging new physics game which seamlessly combines your two favorite sports. Choose from 54 challenging levels with 3 unique themes, and get ready for increased obstacles, hazards, and difficulty. Starlight Legacy (eastasiasoft, 28th May, $12.99) - Return to the style of 16-bit JRPGs in Starlight Legacy, a non-linear adventure inspired by genre classics! Set in a post-medieval world in the Evaria Kingdom, explore a vast kingdom created with lush 2D pixel art, a nostalgic turn-based battle system and non-linear story where the four provinces of the kingdom can be explored in any order of your choosing. STEAM-HEART’S Saturn Tribute (City Connection, 28th May, $19.99) - The return of a hardcore and sexy sci-fi vertical scrolling shooter! Players can obtain and power up two types of main shots and six types of sub-weapons. Utilize special techniques such as the "Weapon Crash", which temporarily boosts sub-weapons, and the "Boost" ability, which lets you momentarily accelerate to dodge enemy attacks. Master these skills to suppress the oncoming enemies! Super Waifu Ball (JanduSoft, 22nd May, $5.99) - Super Waifu Ball is an arcade-style adventure where you roll through colorful, obstacle-filled worlds as a cast of adorable waifus. Complete levels, collect stars, and unlock collectible waifu figurines from the gacha machine! Tavern Owner Simulator (GBTUI, 17th May, $12.99) - Welcome to Tavern Owner Simulator, where your dream of managing a medieval pub becomes reality. Step into the shoes of a tavern proprietor and transform a modest establishment into the most popular spot in town. With a mix of strategic planning, creative design, and savvy management, you’ll turn your tiny tavern into a bustling hub of activity. The Operator (Bureau 81, 22nd May, $13.99) - Welcome to the FDI. As our newest Operator, your role is to use your detective skills to assist our field agents and investigate mysterious crimes. Use cutting-edge FDI software to dig for clues, solve puzzles, and uncover the truth. The Town of Nie Iromusubi (HuneX, 22nd May, $39.19) - "The Town of Nie Iromusubi", a fan-disc of the strange and eerie otherworldly BL fantasy "The Town of Nie. "Weaving together extraordinary colors. Trident’s Tale (3DClouds, 22nd May, $24.99) - Set sail for an epic action-packed adventure in Trident’s Tale, where you’ll become Ocean, a bold young captain on a quest to reclaim the legendary Storm Trident—a mythical artifact that grants power over the seas. But beware the ocean is vast, treacherous, and crawling with danger at every turn! Weirdo (CASCHA GAMES, 22nd May, $10.99) - Parallel-Weirdo is a Japanese manga-style visual novel set in DYL High School. It follows Wang Zhe, an ordinary and frail boy, who tries to win the hearts of girls and complete What will you be downloading this week? (63 votes) A Bibelot: Tiret sur Will  0%ADVANCED V.G. Saturn Tribute2%Arcade Archives NebulasRay5%Casual Sport Series: Badminton  0%Cats Visiting Fairy Tales  0%Cattle Country3%Cipheur  0%Cookie Clicker8%Cozy Winter  0%Digger Simulator: Gold Rush  0%Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping8%Eggconsole Hydlide Ii Msx2%Extreme! 2-Choice Flag Quiz  0%Food Truck Business Simulator  0%Genopanic  0%Ghost Room Deep  0%Knight's Night!  0%Legends Aligned: Minis in Conflict  0%Merge Numbers  0%Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Battle Destiny Remastered3%Monster Train 28%Mudness Offroad Car Simulator Runner  0%Not Not 2 - A Brain Challenge2%Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny6%Pancho's Mission  0%Pick Race 3D  0%Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo19%Planeta 55  0%Please, Touch The Artwork 25%Power Sink3%Project Zombie  0%Sauna of the DEAD  0%Soccer Golf!  0%Starlight Legacy3%STEAM-HEART'S Saturn Tribute2%Super Waifu Ball2%Tavern Owner Simulator  0%The Operator  0%The Town of Nie Iromusubi  0%Trident's Tale  0%Weirdo  0%Nothing for me this week21% So that's your lot for this week's North American Nintendo Download. Go on, be a sport and drop a vote in the poll above, and comment below with your hot picks! Related Games See Also
    0 Комментарии ·0 Поделились ·0 предпросмотр
  • Gdevelop engine i need someone to help me implement a time track for my game. Paying ofc!

    Author

    Simply in my game i want to make offline time tracker for quests. Because the game is a clicker and it heavily relies on time tracking and so on. So i need someone to implement me a time that tracks time even while the player is away and when they are back the time tracking works as it should. Note this is a quest like game so i will also need to be able to calculate time like how many seconds, minutes has passed. A time that tracks time for quests to see if the player has finished or not. 

    3mpk1ng said:i need someone to implement…@3mpk1ng , recruitingis not permitted in the discussion boards, so your post has been moved to Hobby Project Classifieds. Before posting again, please review our community guidelines. Welcome to gamedev.net, and good luck with your endeavours.

    Advertisement

    I just noticed the “paying ofc!” in the subject line. This thread is moved to Your Announcements, where paid recruiting is permitted. 
    #gdevelop #engine #need #someone #help
    Gdevelop engine i need someone to help me implement a time track for my game. Paying ofc!
    Author Simply in my game i want to make offline time tracker for quests. Because the game is a clicker and it heavily relies on time tracking and so on. So i need someone to implement me a time that tracks time even while the player is away and when they are back the time tracking works as it should. Note this is a quest like game so i will also need to be able to calculate time like how many seconds, minutes has passed. A time that tracks time for quests to see if the player has finished or not.  3mpk1ng said:i need someone to implement…@3mpk1ng , recruitingis not permitted in the discussion boards, so your post has been moved to Hobby Project Classifieds. Before posting again, please review our community guidelines. Welcome to gamedev.net, and good luck with your endeavours. Advertisement I just noticed the “paying ofc!” in the subject line. This thread is moved to Your Announcements, where paid recruiting is permitted.  #gdevelop #engine #need #someone #help
    gamedev.net
    Author Simply in my game i want to make offline time tracker for quests. Because the game is a clicker and it heavily relies on time tracking and so on. So i need someone to implement me a time that tracks time even while the player is away and when they are back the time tracking works as it should. Note this is a quest like game so i will also need to be able to calculate time like how many seconds, minutes has passed. A time that tracks time for quests to see if the player has finished or not.  3mpk1ng said:i need someone to implement…@3mpk1ng , recruiting (team-building) is not permitted in the discussion boards, so your post has been moved to Hobby Project Classifieds. Before posting again, please review our community guidelines. Welcome to gamedev.net, and good luck with your endeavours. Advertisement I just noticed the “paying ofc!” in the subject line. This thread is moved to Your Announcements, where paid recruiting is permitted. 
    1 Комментарии ·0 Поделились ·0 предпросмотр
  • Did The Last of Us Season 2, episode 6 break your heart? Us too.

    Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal in "The Last of Us."
    Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

    If you thought the death of Joelwould be the most heartbreaking part of The Last of UsThat honor falls to Season 2, episode 6, a flashback episode all about Joel and Ellie'syears in Jackson — and why they grew apart.The episode's heartbreak comes in waves. Early sequences of Joel and Ellie's happiest memories become tragically bittersweet with the knowledge of what's to come. And of course, watching the two fall out is a surefire recipe for sadness. By the end of the hour, your eyes will be damp and your heart will have shattered into a million tiny pieces. But hey, at least we got Joel back for a bit!Here, in chronological order, is every time The Last of Us Season 2, episode 6 broke our hearts.

    When young Joel's father gets vulnerable about parenting.Episode 6 opens with a flashback to Austin in 1983, when young Joeltries to protect Tommyfrom a beating from their father. But instead of physically punishing either of his sons, Joel's father decides to tell him about the warped blueprint of fatherhood he inherited from his own abusive dad, and how he hopes to improve upon it, bit by bit. "I'm doing a little better than my father did," he tells Joel. "When it's your turn, I hope you do a little better than me."That line proves to be the thesis of the episode, with Joel trying to do a little better than his own father during his time with Ellie. Knowing how limited that time is — and how the two ended things — kickstarts episode 6's heartache. And guess what? It's not about to let up anytime soon. When the opening credits change to bring back Joel.After Joel's death, The Last of Us' opening credits made a devastating change. Instead of ending on the image of two fungal silhouettes, meant to represent Ellie and Joel, they ended with just the Ellie silhouette, highlighting her new loneliness. In episode 6, however, the Joel silhouette is back! It's both a welcome return and a reminder that we're on borrowed time with this pair. Who knew a shadow of a fungus could make me so emotional?When Joel sings "Future Days" to Ellie.

    Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal in "The Last of Us."
    Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

    So many elements of Ellie's 15th birthday tug at the heartstrings, from Joel's reaction to her burning her arm to hide her bite mark to him customizing a guitar for her. But the moment that opens the floodgates is undoubtedly Joel's rendition of Pearl Jam's "Future Days".The song's lyrics — "If I ever were to lose you / I'd surely lose myself" — are a resounding reminder of how much Ellie and Joel have come to mean to each other.But the performance is also a payoff of a story thread from all the way back in Season 1, when Ellie asked Joel to sing for her and teach her to play guitar. Well, it's finally happened, and I wouldn't blame you for getting teary-eyed. When Joel and Ellie visit the museum.

    Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in "The Last of Us."
    Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

    After a full season and a half of watching Joel and Ellie run from Infected and human enemies alike, any scene where these two can just relax and enjoy themselves is a blessing. And what a blessing Ellie's 16th birthday is!Joel brings Ellie to a museum, where she spends the day clambering on dinosaur statues and blasting off to space in an old capsule. In one of the season's most poignant moments, her imagined space flight becomes reality, with the light of the real world fading around her until she's drifting in the dark void of space.The entire sequence is Joel and Ellie at their happiest. She gets to actually be a kid for once, and Joel revels in her joy, knowing he's doing a good job as a father.Of course, the scene also serves as the calm before the storm. Ellie's insistence that she goes on patrol is a reminder of the dangers Jackson faces, as well as the fateful patrol that will one day rip Joel from her forever. For now, though, we get to enjoy Joel in dad mode, attempting to give Ellie "the talk," all while being clueless about her sexuality. Talk about bittersweet.When Ellie moves out of their house.If Ellie's 16th birthday celebration is Joel's dream, then her 17th birthday is his nightmare. He walks in on her smoking pot, getting a tattoo, and hooking up with Kat. "All the teenage shit all at once," as he puts it.

    Mashable Top Stories

    Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news.
    Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter

    By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    Thanks for signing up!

    While Joel's exasperated dad act seems funny at first — what's worse, dodging Clickers or teenage rebellion? — it moves into upsetting territory pretty fast. Dismissing Ellie's relationship with Kat as an "experiment" is awful, plain and simple, as is his assertion that Ellie isn't currently herself. No wonder Ellie wants to move into the garage: Having her own father figure refute her identity like that marks a major blow to their bond.Thankfully, Joel recognizes the error of his ways and tries to help by giving Ellie more space, but this fight and subsequent move mark the beginning of the end for Joel and Ellie. You want to grab them through the screen and yell at them to communicate with each other, that they only have a few years left. Instead, all you can do is watch the tragedy snowball.When we learn what Ellie's moth tattoo means.

    Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal in "The Last of Us."
    Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

    One of Joel's attempts to bond with Ellie post-fight is to ask her about her moth tattoo. It echoes her drawings, which he used as inspiration when decorating her guitar. Ellie says she chose the moths because of what they represent in dreams. Joel mistakenly believes they're symbols for change and metamorphosis, but therapist Gailreveals the truth: They represent death.That means Ellie has been carrying around the deaths of everyone she's lost, like Riley, her mother, and more. As seemingly the only person in the world who's immune to Cordyceps, there's also a layer of survivor's guilt here. Ellie's surrounded by death, yet protected from it too. That's a crushing burden to bear, one that's defined her entire coming-of-age — and one that Joel will never truly understand.When Ellie questions what happened in Salt Lake City.

    Bella Ramsey in "The Last of Us."
    Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

    On Ellie's 19th birthday, she gets what she's wanted since moving to Jackson: to go on patrol with Joel. But now, she wants something else, too: answers about what really happened in Salt Lake City at the end of Season 1.Before she and Joel head out to patrol, she sits in her room, rehearsing questions she has about Salt Lake City. "If the Fireflies spotted us a mile from the hospital, how did they get surprised by an entire group of raiders?" she wonders. "If the raiders could kill all those soldiers and Marlene, and you had to carry me the whole time, how did we get away?"These brief moments signal how much Ellie has replayed that pivotal day, how these discrepancies have been eating at her for years. Deep down, she knows that Joel lied to her. Perhaps that subconscious knowledge influenced her need for space from Joel, further widening the rift between them that Joel may have just attributed to teenage rebellion. Based on episode 1, we know that that rift is about to get a whole lot wider, so the inclusion of Ellie's questions here suggests the other shoe is about to drop.When we finally learn what happened with Eugene.

    Joe Pantoliano in "The Last of Us."
    Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

    This is the big one, folks. Ever since episode 1, The Last of Us has been talking about Joel killing Gail's husband Eugene. Now, we finally get to see it play out.Eugene is marked for death from the moment he gets infected on patrol. He accepts that, but man, do his final moments sting. It all starts when Ellie insists that Eugene has enough time to make it back to Jackson and say goodbye to Gail before he fully turns, and she makes Joel promise that he'll help. But Joel, thinking to protect Ellie and Jackson, goes back on his promise and shoots Eugene anyway. It's a brutal betrayal not just of Eugene, who gets a few seconds of false hope before reality sets in, but also of Ellie, who realizes that Joel's promise mirrors the very promise he made to her after the events of Salt Lake City.

    Related Stories

    "You swore," she says, all the weight of years of pain and questioning coming through in just two words.Ellie's discovery of Joel's lie plays out differently in the show than in the game, where Eugene is already dead from a stroke. Still, watching her put the pieces together — and watching Joel betray her even after their relationship seemed to be tentatively mending — is nothing less than devastating.When Joel and Ellie take steps towards healing in the porch scene.Up until now, episode 6 has revealed why Joel and Ellie aren't on speaking terms by the start of Season 2, as well as what happened with Eugene. There's only one major question left to answer: What happened the night before Joel's death to make Ellie say she and Joel were "better now"?The answer plays out in episode 6's gorgeous final scene, a continuation of the porch scene from episode 1. Here, The Last of Us reveals that Ellie didn't just turn in for the night after seeing Joel out on the porch. Instead, she came back to ask him, point blank, about what he did to the Fireflies. Her line of questioning serves as a direct parallel to Abby'sinterrogation of Joel right before his death: The two both know the role Joel played in the massacre, but they want to hear him confess it for himself.The conversation that follows is full of lines that double as gut punches. Upon learning that making a Cordyceps cure would have killed her, Ellie says, "Then I was supposed to die! That was my purpose. My life would've fucking mattered. But you took that from me, you took that from everyone."Joel's response? "Yes, and I'll pay the price." Little does he know he'll pay the ultimate price the very next day. In fact, the whole scene hurts even more knowing that the journey of forgiveness that Ellie hopes to embark on will be cut short in a matter of hours. Episode 6, you've already made me tear up several times before, but this might take the cake.Adding salt to the wound is one last callback to the Austin flashback. "If you should ever haveof your own, well, then, I hope you do a little better than me," Joel tells Ellie. The line hits especially hard after Ellie's reaction to Dina'spregnancy: "I'm gonna be a dad."With that, The Last of Us comes full circle, making episode 6 a stunning, heartbreaking story of parenthood — and a season highlight.New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 premiere on HBO and HBO Max Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

    Belen Edwards
    Entertainment Reporter

    Belen Edwards is an Entertainment Reporter at Mashable. She covers movies and TV with a focus on fantasy and science fiction, adaptations, animation, and more nerdy goodness.
    #did #last #season #episode #break
    Did The Last of Us Season 2, episode 6 break your heart? Us too.
    Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal in "The Last of Us." Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO If you thought the death of Joelwould be the most heartbreaking part of The Last of UsThat honor falls to Season 2, episode 6, a flashback episode all about Joel and Ellie'syears in Jackson — and why they grew apart.The episode's heartbreak comes in waves. Early sequences of Joel and Ellie's happiest memories become tragically bittersweet with the knowledge of what's to come. And of course, watching the two fall out is a surefire recipe for sadness. By the end of the hour, your eyes will be damp and your heart will have shattered into a million tiny pieces. But hey, at least we got Joel back for a bit!Here, in chronological order, is every time The Last of Us Season 2, episode 6 broke our hearts. When young Joel's father gets vulnerable about parenting.Episode 6 opens with a flashback to Austin in 1983, when young Joeltries to protect Tommyfrom a beating from their father. But instead of physically punishing either of his sons, Joel's father decides to tell him about the warped blueprint of fatherhood he inherited from his own abusive dad, and how he hopes to improve upon it, bit by bit. "I'm doing a little better than my father did," he tells Joel. "When it's your turn, I hope you do a little better than me."That line proves to be the thesis of the episode, with Joel trying to do a little better than his own father during his time with Ellie. Knowing how limited that time is — and how the two ended things — kickstarts episode 6's heartache. And guess what? It's not about to let up anytime soon. When the opening credits change to bring back Joel.After Joel's death, The Last of Us' opening credits made a devastating change. Instead of ending on the image of two fungal silhouettes, meant to represent Ellie and Joel, they ended with just the Ellie silhouette, highlighting her new loneliness. In episode 6, however, the Joel silhouette is back! It's both a welcome return and a reminder that we're on borrowed time with this pair. Who knew a shadow of a fungus could make me so emotional?When Joel sings "Future Days" to Ellie. Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal in "The Last of Us." Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO So many elements of Ellie's 15th birthday tug at the heartstrings, from Joel's reaction to her burning her arm to hide her bite mark to him customizing a guitar for her. But the moment that opens the floodgates is undoubtedly Joel's rendition of Pearl Jam's "Future Days".The song's lyrics — "If I ever were to lose you / I'd surely lose myself" — are a resounding reminder of how much Ellie and Joel have come to mean to each other.But the performance is also a payoff of a story thread from all the way back in Season 1, when Ellie asked Joel to sing for her and teach her to play guitar. Well, it's finally happened, and I wouldn't blame you for getting teary-eyed. When Joel and Ellie visit the museum. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in "The Last of Us." Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO After a full season and a half of watching Joel and Ellie run from Infected and human enemies alike, any scene where these two can just relax and enjoy themselves is a blessing. And what a blessing Ellie's 16th birthday is!Joel brings Ellie to a museum, where she spends the day clambering on dinosaur statues and blasting off to space in an old capsule. In one of the season's most poignant moments, her imagined space flight becomes reality, with the light of the real world fading around her until she's drifting in the dark void of space.The entire sequence is Joel and Ellie at their happiest. She gets to actually be a kid for once, and Joel revels in her joy, knowing he's doing a good job as a father.Of course, the scene also serves as the calm before the storm. Ellie's insistence that she goes on patrol is a reminder of the dangers Jackson faces, as well as the fateful patrol that will one day rip Joel from her forever. For now, though, we get to enjoy Joel in dad mode, attempting to give Ellie "the talk," all while being clueless about her sexuality. Talk about bittersweet.When Ellie moves out of their house.If Ellie's 16th birthday celebration is Joel's dream, then her 17th birthday is his nightmare. He walks in on her smoking pot, getting a tattoo, and hooking up with Kat. "All the teenage shit all at once," as he puts it. Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! While Joel's exasperated dad act seems funny at first — what's worse, dodging Clickers or teenage rebellion? — it moves into upsetting territory pretty fast. Dismissing Ellie's relationship with Kat as an "experiment" is awful, plain and simple, as is his assertion that Ellie isn't currently herself. No wonder Ellie wants to move into the garage: Having her own father figure refute her identity like that marks a major blow to their bond.Thankfully, Joel recognizes the error of his ways and tries to help by giving Ellie more space, but this fight and subsequent move mark the beginning of the end for Joel and Ellie. You want to grab them through the screen and yell at them to communicate with each other, that they only have a few years left. Instead, all you can do is watch the tragedy snowball.When we learn what Ellie's moth tattoo means. Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal in "The Last of Us." Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO One of Joel's attempts to bond with Ellie post-fight is to ask her about her moth tattoo. It echoes her drawings, which he used as inspiration when decorating her guitar. Ellie says she chose the moths because of what they represent in dreams. Joel mistakenly believes they're symbols for change and metamorphosis, but therapist Gailreveals the truth: They represent death.That means Ellie has been carrying around the deaths of everyone she's lost, like Riley, her mother, and more. As seemingly the only person in the world who's immune to Cordyceps, there's also a layer of survivor's guilt here. Ellie's surrounded by death, yet protected from it too. That's a crushing burden to bear, one that's defined her entire coming-of-age — and one that Joel will never truly understand.When Ellie questions what happened in Salt Lake City. Bella Ramsey in "The Last of Us." Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO On Ellie's 19th birthday, she gets what she's wanted since moving to Jackson: to go on patrol with Joel. But now, she wants something else, too: answers about what really happened in Salt Lake City at the end of Season 1.Before she and Joel head out to patrol, she sits in her room, rehearsing questions she has about Salt Lake City. "If the Fireflies spotted us a mile from the hospital, how did they get surprised by an entire group of raiders?" she wonders. "If the raiders could kill all those soldiers and Marlene, and you had to carry me the whole time, how did we get away?"These brief moments signal how much Ellie has replayed that pivotal day, how these discrepancies have been eating at her for years. Deep down, she knows that Joel lied to her. Perhaps that subconscious knowledge influenced her need for space from Joel, further widening the rift between them that Joel may have just attributed to teenage rebellion. Based on episode 1, we know that that rift is about to get a whole lot wider, so the inclusion of Ellie's questions here suggests the other shoe is about to drop.When we finally learn what happened with Eugene. Joe Pantoliano in "The Last of Us." Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO This is the big one, folks. Ever since episode 1, The Last of Us has been talking about Joel killing Gail's husband Eugene. Now, we finally get to see it play out.Eugene is marked for death from the moment he gets infected on patrol. He accepts that, but man, do his final moments sting. It all starts when Ellie insists that Eugene has enough time to make it back to Jackson and say goodbye to Gail before he fully turns, and she makes Joel promise that he'll help. But Joel, thinking to protect Ellie and Jackson, goes back on his promise and shoots Eugene anyway. It's a brutal betrayal not just of Eugene, who gets a few seconds of false hope before reality sets in, but also of Ellie, who realizes that Joel's promise mirrors the very promise he made to her after the events of Salt Lake City. Related Stories "You swore," she says, all the weight of years of pain and questioning coming through in just two words.Ellie's discovery of Joel's lie plays out differently in the show than in the game, where Eugene is already dead from a stroke. Still, watching her put the pieces together — and watching Joel betray her even after their relationship seemed to be tentatively mending — is nothing less than devastating.When Joel and Ellie take steps towards healing in the porch scene.Up until now, episode 6 has revealed why Joel and Ellie aren't on speaking terms by the start of Season 2, as well as what happened with Eugene. There's only one major question left to answer: What happened the night before Joel's death to make Ellie say she and Joel were "better now"?The answer plays out in episode 6's gorgeous final scene, a continuation of the porch scene from episode 1. Here, The Last of Us reveals that Ellie didn't just turn in for the night after seeing Joel out on the porch. Instead, she came back to ask him, point blank, about what he did to the Fireflies. Her line of questioning serves as a direct parallel to Abby'sinterrogation of Joel right before his death: The two both know the role Joel played in the massacre, but they want to hear him confess it for himself.The conversation that follows is full of lines that double as gut punches. Upon learning that making a Cordyceps cure would have killed her, Ellie says, "Then I was supposed to die! That was my purpose. My life would've fucking mattered. But you took that from me, you took that from everyone."Joel's response? "Yes, and I'll pay the price." Little does he know he'll pay the ultimate price the very next day. In fact, the whole scene hurts even more knowing that the journey of forgiveness that Ellie hopes to embark on will be cut short in a matter of hours. Episode 6, you've already made me tear up several times before, but this might take the cake.Adding salt to the wound is one last callback to the Austin flashback. "If you should ever haveof your own, well, then, I hope you do a little better than me," Joel tells Ellie. The line hits especially hard after Ellie's reaction to Dina'spregnancy: "I'm gonna be a dad."With that, The Last of Us comes full circle, making episode 6 a stunning, heartbreaking story of parenthood — and a season highlight.New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 premiere on HBO and HBO Max Sundays at 9 p.m. ET. Belen Edwards Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards is an Entertainment Reporter at Mashable. She covers movies and TV with a focus on fantasy and science fiction, adaptations, animation, and more nerdy goodness. #did #last #season #episode #break
    Did The Last of Us Season 2, episode 6 break your heart? Us too.
    mashable.com
    Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal in "The Last of Us." Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO If you thought the death of Joel (Pedro Pascal) would be the most heartbreaking part of The Last of UsThat honor falls to Season 2, episode 6, a flashback episode all about Joel and Ellie's (Bella Ramsey) years in Jackson — and why they grew apart.The episode's heartbreak comes in waves. Early sequences of Joel and Ellie's happiest memories become tragically bittersweet with the knowledge of what's to come. And of course, watching the two fall out is a surefire recipe for sadness. By the end of the hour, your eyes will be damp and your heart will have shattered into a million tiny pieces. But hey, at least we got Joel back for a bit!Here, in chronological order, is every time The Last of Us Season 2, episode 6 broke our hearts. When young Joel's father gets vulnerable about parenting.Episode 6 opens with a flashback to Austin in 1983, when young Joel (Andrew Diaz) tries to protect Tommy (David Miranda) from a beating from their father (Tony Dalton). But instead of physically punishing either of his sons, Joel's father decides to tell him about the warped blueprint of fatherhood he inherited from his own abusive dad, and how he hopes to improve upon it, bit by bit. "I'm doing a little better than my father did," he tells Joel. "When it's your turn, I hope you do a little better than me."That line proves to be the thesis of the episode, with Joel trying to do a little better than his own father during his time with Ellie. Knowing how limited that time is — and how the two ended things — kickstarts episode 6's heartache. And guess what? It's not about to let up anytime soon. When the opening credits change to bring back Joel.After Joel's death, The Last of Us' opening credits made a devastating change. Instead of ending on the image of two fungal silhouettes, meant to represent Ellie and Joel, they ended with just the Ellie silhouette, highlighting her new loneliness. In episode 6, however, the Joel silhouette is back! It's both a welcome return and a reminder that we're on borrowed time with this pair. Who knew a shadow of a fungus could make me so emotional?When Joel sings "Future Days" to Ellie. Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal in "The Last of Us." Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO So many elements of Ellie's 15th birthday tug at the heartstrings, from Joel's reaction to her burning her arm to hide her bite mark to him customizing a guitar for her. But the moment that opens the floodgates is undoubtedly Joel's rendition of Pearl Jam's "Future Days" (teased by Ellie herself back in episode 5).The song's lyrics — "If I ever were to lose you / I'd surely lose myself" — are a resounding reminder of how much Ellie and Joel have come to mean to each other. (It's also a dark portent of how Ellie may be losing herself on her revenge quest.) But the performance is also a payoff of a story thread from all the way back in Season 1, when Ellie asked Joel to sing for her and teach her to play guitar. Well, it's finally happened, and I wouldn't blame you for getting teary-eyed. When Joel and Ellie visit the museum. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in "The Last of Us." Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO After a full season and a half of watching Joel and Ellie run from Infected and human enemies alike (and in Joel's case, you know, dying), any scene where these two can just relax and enjoy themselves is a blessing. And what a blessing Ellie's 16th birthday is!Joel brings Ellie to a museum, where she spends the day clambering on dinosaur statues and blasting off to space in an old capsule. In one of the season's most poignant moments, her imagined space flight becomes reality, with the light of the real world fading around her until she's drifting in the dark void of space.The entire sequence is Joel and Ellie at their happiest. She gets to actually be a kid for once, and Joel revels in her joy, knowing he's doing a good job as a father.Of course, the scene also serves as the calm before the storm. Ellie's insistence that she goes on patrol is a reminder of the dangers Jackson faces, as well as the fateful patrol that will one day rip Joel from her forever. For now, though, we get to enjoy Joel in dad mode, attempting to give Ellie "the talk," all while being clueless about her sexuality. Talk about bittersweet.When Ellie moves out of their house.If Ellie's 16th birthday celebration is Joel's dream, then her 17th birthday is his nightmare. He walks in on her smoking pot, getting a tattoo, and hooking up with Kat (Noah Lamanna). "All the teenage shit all at once," as he puts it. Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! While Joel's exasperated dad act seems funny at first — what's worse, dodging Clickers or teenage rebellion? — it moves into upsetting territory pretty fast. Dismissing Ellie's relationship with Kat as an "experiment" is awful, plain and simple, as is his assertion that Ellie isn't currently herself. No wonder Ellie wants to move into the garage: Having her own father figure refute her identity like that marks a major blow to their bond.Thankfully, Joel recognizes the error of his ways and tries to help by giving Ellie more space, but this fight and subsequent move mark the beginning of the end for Joel and Ellie. You want to grab them through the screen and yell at them to communicate with each other, that they only have a few years left. Instead, all you can do is watch the tragedy snowball.When we learn what Ellie's moth tattoo means. Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal in "The Last of Us." Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO One of Joel's attempts to bond with Ellie post-fight is to ask her about her moth tattoo. It echoes her drawings, which he used as inspiration when decorating her guitar. Ellie says she chose the moths because of what they represent in dreams. Joel mistakenly believes they're symbols for change and metamorphosis, but therapist Gail (Catherine O'Hara) reveals the truth: They represent death.That means Ellie has been carrying around the deaths of everyone she's lost, like Riley (Storm Reid), her mother (Ashley Johnson), and more. As seemingly the only person in the world who's immune to Cordyceps, there's also a layer of survivor's guilt here. Ellie's surrounded by death, yet protected from it too. That's a crushing burden to bear, one that's defined her entire coming-of-age — and one that Joel will never truly understand.When Ellie questions what happened in Salt Lake City. Bella Ramsey in "The Last of Us." Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO On Ellie's 19th birthday, she gets what she's wanted since moving to Jackson: to go on patrol with Joel. But now, she wants something else, too: answers about what really happened in Salt Lake City at the end of Season 1.Before she and Joel head out to patrol, she sits in her room, rehearsing questions she has about Salt Lake City. "If the Fireflies spotted us a mile from the hospital, how did they get surprised by an entire group of raiders?" she wonders. "If the raiders could kill all those soldiers and Marlene, and you had to carry me the whole time, how did we get away?"These brief moments signal how much Ellie has replayed that pivotal day, how these discrepancies have been eating at her for years. Deep down, she knows that Joel lied to her. Perhaps that subconscious knowledge influenced her need for space from Joel, further widening the rift between them that Joel may have just attributed to teenage rebellion. Based on episode 1, we know that that rift is about to get a whole lot wider, so the inclusion of Ellie's questions here suggests the other shoe is about to drop.When we finally learn what happened with Eugene. Joe Pantoliano in "The Last of Us." Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO This is the big one, folks. Ever since episode 1, The Last of Us has been talking about Joel killing Gail's husband Eugene (Joe Pantoliano). Now, we finally get to see it play out.Eugene is marked for death from the moment he gets infected on patrol. He accepts that, but man, do his final moments sting. It all starts when Ellie insists that Eugene has enough time to make it back to Jackson and say goodbye to Gail before he fully turns, and she makes Joel promise that he'll help. But Joel, thinking to protect Ellie and Jackson, goes back on his promise and shoots Eugene anyway. It's a brutal betrayal not just of Eugene, who gets a few seconds of false hope before reality sets in, but also of Ellie, who realizes that Joel's promise mirrors the very promise he made to her after the events of Salt Lake City. Related Stories "You swore," she says, all the weight of years of pain and questioning coming through in just two words.Ellie's discovery of Joel's lie plays out differently in the show than in the game, where Eugene is already dead from a stroke. Still, watching her put the pieces together — and watching Joel betray her even after their relationship seemed to be tentatively mending — is nothing less than devastating.When Joel and Ellie take steps towards healing in the porch scene.Up until now, episode 6 has revealed why Joel and Ellie aren't on speaking terms by the start of Season 2, as well as what happened with Eugene. There's only one major question left to answer: What happened the night before Joel's death to make Ellie say she and Joel were "better now"?The answer plays out in episode 6's gorgeous final scene, a continuation of the porch scene from episode 1. Here, The Last of Us reveals that Ellie didn't just turn in for the night after seeing Joel out on the porch. Instead, she came back to ask him, point blank, about what he did to the Fireflies. Her line of questioning serves as a direct parallel to Abby's (Kaitlyn Dever) interrogation of Joel right before his death: The two both know the role Joel played in the massacre, but they want to hear him confess it for himself.The conversation that follows is full of lines that double as gut punches. Upon learning that making a Cordyceps cure would have killed her, Ellie says, "Then I was supposed to die! That was my purpose. My life would've fucking mattered. But you took that from me, you took that from everyone."Joel's response? "Yes, and I'll pay the price." Little does he know he'll pay the ultimate price the very next day. In fact, the whole scene hurts even more knowing that the journey of forgiveness that Ellie hopes to embark on will be cut short in a matter of hours. Episode 6, you've already made me tear up several times before, but this might take the cake.Adding salt to the wound is one last callback to the Austin flashback. "If you should ever have [a child] of your own, well, then, I hope you do a little better than me," Joel tells Ellie. The line hits especially hard after Ellie's reaction to Dina's (Isabela Merced) pregnancy: "I'm gonna be a dad."With that, The Last of Us comes full circle, making episode 6 a stunning, heartbreaking story of parenthood — and a season highlight.New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 premiere on HBO and HBO Max Sundays at 9 p.m. ET. Belen Edwards Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards is an Entertainment Reporter at Mashable. She covers movies and TV with a focus on fantasy and science fiction, adaptations, animation, and more nerdy goodness.
    0 Комментарии ·0 Поделились ·0 предпросмотр
CGShares https://cgshares.com