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The tech you need to stay warm this winter
The holiday season is creeping up on us, and baby, it's cold outside. Sometimes it's cold inside too, and the chill spreading throughout your body can really kill your holiday buzz. Instead of chugging eggnog or doing 50 jumping jacks to generate body heat, why not get an electric blanket and snuggle up? You can never have too many gadgets, right? Right?!
The best board games with an app-based twist
Board games are a timeless way to socialize and bring loved ones together over the holiday season. If you're tired of the classics (please, no more Monopoly), it might be time to freshen up your collection with a hybrid board game. We know, we know -- this can be a touchy subject. Some love the hobby because of its physical components and therefore don't want a smartphone or tablet anywhere near the table. If you fall into this camp, we completely understand. App-supported board games can be wonderful though. Some offer sound bites that tell you where an invisible enemy is on the board. Others serve as a research terminal that lets you feel like an ace detective. Apps can be used to update games too, with additional quests, missions and modes. A few of our favorites have even added single-player campaigns to previously multiplayer-only games. If you're open to the idea and want a few recommendations, check out our Engadget-approved short list below. We take no responsibility for any festive family feuds that occur as a result.
How to prep tech gifts for kids
Every parent probably dreams of that Nintendo 64 moment -- you know, that video of the boy opening up a present on Christmas morning and screaming the name of the system while his sister hops around him? Unfortunately these days it's easy for that excitement to come crashing down once they unbox a new system only to discover it needs a ton of updates or you don't have the right cables. So be prepared and make sure you do what needs to be done in advance so your kids can enjoy their gifts while you sit back with a well-deserved hot toddy.
Facebook's Portal devices are each $50 off for Black Friday
With this latest Black Friday roundup, we want to draw your attention to a group of devices that are perhaps more controversial than some of the other products we've spotlighted recently: Facebook's Portal TV webcam and Portal smart displays. All things considered, there are better options from companies like Google and Amazon in the smart display category. Compared to devices like the Echo Show and Nest Hub, Facebook's Portal smart displays offer fewer apps and features -- you won't find a native YouTube app on Portal, for example. For all their faults, however, Facebook's Portal devices do have their strengths. If you primarily use Messenger or WhatsApp to chat with friends and family, for example, Facebook's devices offer the best experience in that regard. These deals are worth considering -- just know before you buy what features matter most to you.
Amazon is discounting more Echo Show models by up to $80
Last week, Amazon announced plans to discount several Fire TV and Echo devices for Black Friday. Now, it's slashing the price of two more smart displays. The second-generation Echo Show is $150, that's an $80 discount, and comes with a free Philips Hue bulb. The Echo Show 8 is $80, a $50 discount.
The Echo Flex is Amazon’s Alexa gateway drug
One of Engadget's favorite smart speakers over the past few years has been Amazon's Echo Dot. It's small, easy to use and incredibly affordable at only $50. Sure, there are speakers offering better audio, but if all you wanted was a cheap way to get Alexa into the home, the Echo Dot was the way to go. That is, until earlier this year, when Amazon announced an entirely new product: the Echo Flex. At $25, it's one of the cheapest Alexa devices on the market.
Google's Nest Mini vs. Amazon's Echo Dot: pick your assistant
When Google introduced the Home Mini two years ago, it was playing catch-up to Amazon's Echo lineup. The Echo Dot, a tiny and affordable version of the larger Echo smart speaker, had been on sale for more than a year and a half, and Google was clearly responding to the Dot's popularity. The Home Mini bested the Dot in several ways, though, including a better speaker and more attractive design. Naturally, Amazon responded a year later with the third-generation Dot. It ditched the glossy black plastic and took inspiration from the Home Mini's fabric-covered exterior. But more importantly, it fixed the older Dot's terrible speaker with something that was pretty impressive for casual listening. This year, the back-and-forth continued with Google's Nest Mini, a $49 speaker that looks identical to the original Mini but includes a wall mount, proximity sensors and (you guessed it) an improved speaker and microphone setup. Amazon responded with a small tweak to last year's Echo Dot -- it's basically the same, but you can now spend an extra $10 to get a model with an LED clock on the front. These are two of the most popular smart speakers on the market, so if you're looking to pick one up this holiday season, here's what you should know before casting your lot with Alexa or Google Assistant.
Alexa can now sound excited or disappointed
Alexa may start sounding a bit less robotic. In a bid to make Alexa interactions sound more natural, Amazon has given it the ability to respond with either an excited or a disappointed tone -- for users in the US, at least. Alexa could, say, announce that you've answered a trivia question correctly and sound like it actually means its congratulatory message. It could also sound empathetic if it's telling you that your favorite sports team has lost the game.
The Morning After: Meet the R2-D2 Instant Pot
Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Before we take a quick Thanksgiving break (yes, The Morning After will return for Black Friday) it's time for an extremely normal newsletter filled with Star Wars cookware, VR-equipped cows and auto execs feeding their egos.
Nest Hello's holiday and winter ringtones are live
It's been almost a month since Halloween, and it may be time to switch your Nest Hello doorbell tune from "cackling witch" to something more season appropriate. Google has rolled out a collection of winter ringtones for the smart doorbell, just like it did for Halloween back in October. The selection includes holiday tones for Hanukkah, like the sounds of a dreidel, and Christmas, like the ringtone versions of Deck the Halls and Joy to the World, but it also has nondenominational winter sounds.
Star Wars-themed Instant Pots look like R2-D2, BB-8 or Darth Vader
While Mandalorian and Baby Yoda merch has disappointed, Williams Sonoma is extending its plot to cash-in on your desire for branded cookware. The latest effort combines two crazes: Instant Pot and Star Wars. The multipurpose pressure cooker is perfectly sized for paintjobs referencing droids and other characters from the series, and come in three size options. The BB-8 styled Duo Mini 3QT can be had for $79.95, while a six quart version comes in three different paintjobs for $99.95: Darth Vader, R2-D2 or Storm Trooper. The Star Wars Instant Pot Duo 8QT is the largest one with a Chewbacca look, and it costs $119.95. Need any more reason to pick one up? They also promise custom recipes on the packaging. Darth Vader's Beef Stew BB-8™ Shrimp Pasta Dark Side Deviled Eggs R2-D2™ Rotisserie Herb Chicken Chewie's Chili They're available for pre-order now, and are scheduled to arrive in stores on December 13th.
Alexa is coming to low-spec devices like light switches and thermostats
Amazon's Alexa voice assistant has migrated to a lot of devices of late, including eyeglasses, ear buds and microwave ovens. Now, the company has revealed that it will run on devices with as little as 1MB of memory and a cheap Cortex-M processor. That means you can expect to see Alexa on all kinds of relatively dumb devices from lightbulbs to toys.
Target Black Friday deals: AirPods, Beats Studio 3 Wireless and more
Target has shared its Black Friday flyer, detailing many of the hardware-related deals the retailer plans to offer later this week. You'll be able to take advantage of the company's promotions starting November 28th through the 30th. We've only highlighted a handful of deals that looked compelling to us -- so you may want to browse Target's flyer to see what else it has on offer. We've linked the current product pages below for easy access when the deals go live.
Anova's Nano sous vide bundle is $70 off at Amazon
When it comes to culinary adventures from the comforts of home, sous vide is still very popular. If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet, we won't judge, but there are some great deals available at Amazon this week that might tempt you to do so. You could also provide the tool necessary for that aspiring chef on your list to try the cooking method. First, the Anova Precision Cooker Nano is bundled with the company's vacuum sealer for $99. That's typically the price just for the Nano alone, so you're getting the sealer for free. Regularly, the pair would cost you $169. You don't need a vacuum sealer for sous vide, but it does make things easier. Plus, you can use it to package food for freezing and storage.
Abode’s DIY home security system is now compatible with HomeKit
Abode's Iota smart home security device is now compatible with Apple HomeKit. If you're an iOS users, that means you'll be able to control your Iota through the Home app on your iPhone or iPad. You'll also be able to control any Abode-branded motion, door and window sensors through the Home app if they're connected to the Iota gateway.
Google Nest lets you read to your kids even when you're apart
The bedtime story is a cherished ritual between parents and their children, and one that hurts the most to miss when mom or dad are away. But now, Google Nest is launching a new Assistant action that will help keep story time on the agenda, no matter how far away you are from your kids.
Spotify’s free streaming will work with Alexa and Bose speakers
You no longer need a Spotify Premium subscription to listen to your Spotify playlists on Alexa, Bose or Sonos speakers. Last week, Spotify announced that Free users could finally listen on Sonos speakers. Today, it's extending that capability to Alexa and Bose speakers, too.
Amazon made big price cuts on its Echo and Fire TV devices for Black Friday
Ahead of Thanksgiving next week, Amazon has shared a preview of its Black Friday deals. This year, the company's Black Friday sale will run a full week starting on November 22nd. Amazon will have a lot of different products discounted, but for the purposes of this roundup, we've decided to highlight the company's own hardware.
Amazon's Fire TV Blaster brings voice control to entire home theater setups
Amazon is adding even more hands-free functionality to your TV viewing experience. The company has announced Fire TV Blaster, an infrared (IR) companion device that extends voice control beyond streaming features to TV and cable control, too.
Google is putting the Pixel 4 and Stadia on sale for Black Friday
Black Friday is just around the corner, and Google is sharing a sneak peek of the sales it will offer. We've rounded up the tech deals to look out for. Most start on November 28th, but a few sales will go live on November 24th.

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