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AMD fires back at 'Super' NVIDIA with Radeon RX 5700 price cuts
AMD unveiled its new Radeon RX 5700 line of graphics cards with 7nm chips at E3 last month, and with just days to go before they launch on July 7th, the company has announced new pricing. In the "spirit" of competition that it says is "heating up" in the graphics market -- specifically NVIDIA's "Super" new RTX cards -- all three versions of the graphics card will be cheaper than we thought. The standard Radeon RX 5700 with 36 compute units and speeds of up to 1.7GHz was originally announced at $379, but will instead hit shelves at $349 -- the same price as NVIDIA's RTX 2060. The 5700 XT card that brings 40 compute units and up to 1.9GHz speed will be $50 cheaper than expected, launching at $399. The same goes for the 50th Anniversary with a slightly higher boost speed and stylish gold trim that will cost $449 instead of $499. That's enough to keep them both cheaper than the $499 RTX 2070 Super -- we'll have to wait for the performance reviews to find out if it's enough to make sure they're still relevant.
Engadget readers love the iPad Pro 12.9
The word that Senior Editor Chris Velazco used to sum up his experience reviewing the iPad Pro 12.9 was "wow." While the ever popular tablet offers sleek hardware, an "absurdly fast" A12X Bionic chipset and a significantly improved Apple Pencil, it still lacks features on the software side that would have made it a realistic laptop replacement. Despite its speedy performance, Chris felt limited by iOS 12's abilities and continually needed work arounds to accomplish tasks that would have been simple on a laptop. While the iPad Pro 12.9 is an "impressive technical achievement," Chris ultimately wanted more from the software side and gave the tablet a solid, but not spectacular, score of 84. Users were actually more disappointed by iOS 12, awarding the device an average score of 78.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Microsoft's biggest Surface Pro rival?
When reviews editor Cherlynn Low spent some time with Samsung's Galaxy Book 2 back in October, she determined that the brilliant display, long-lasting battery and LTE connectivity made a compelling argument for owning the tablet. While it would make an ideal device for people who value a hearty battery and do most of their work in a browser, the performance of the Snapdragon 850 processor was sometimes frustratingly sluggish. A sturdy magnesium body with a built-in kickstand, included S Pen and a keyboard helped compensate for the performance issues, with the Galaxy Book 2 earning a decent score of 83.
PlayStation Classic price drops to $25 at Best Buy, Amazon
We get it -- you really don't like the PlayStation Classic. You've told us, over and over again. We weren't huge fans when we reviewed it, but that was when it cost $100. The price quickly dropped over the next few months, to $60, $40, and even $30. Now, as Wario64 points out on Twitter, it's easily available at both Best Buy and Amazon for just $25 -- a 75 percent discount from the starting price. Sure, the controllers might feel a little cheap, but at least there's two of them. The 20 pre-loaded games may not be the strongest list ever and includes PAL versions with poor performance but again -- there's 20 of them, which include titles like Metal Gear Solid, Twisted Metal and Final Fantasy VII. And people have even modded the system for successful sideloading. Whatever the issues of this attempt to cash in on the mini-retro-console craze, at some point it's cheap enough for nostalgia to win out. The real problem with buying one now -- other than finding it unopened in six months once you've forgotten you even purchased it -- is feeling like a sucker when they start giving them away on Black Friday. We'll see you back here next year for the Genesis Mini and TurboGrafx-16 mini.
Epic will cover refunds for unhappy 'Shenmue 3' backers
You might be less inclined to panic the next time a game you've crowdfunded becomes an Epic Games Store exclusive -- particularly if you're a Shenmue fan. Ys Net has informed Shenmue 3 backers that it will (with Epic's financial support) accept refund requests from those unhappy that the PC version won't be available through Steam until a year after its initial release. How much you'll get back will depend on whether or not your rewards have already been implemented, but you won't have choose a PS4 copy just to signal your displeasure.
Sony subs ‘PES' for 'Detroit' in July's PS Plus lineup
In an unusual move for Sony, it's making a change to its free PS Plus game lineup for July. It previously said the offerings would be Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 and Horizon Chase Turbo. Now, it's swapping out PES 2019 for Detroit: Become Human Digital Deluxe Edition, which includes another Quantic Dream game in Heavy Rain (a previous PS Plus giveaway).
PlayStation Vue is raising prices for all of its plans (updated)
Another year, another price hike for the PlayStation Vue TV-streaming service. On Monday, the company announced that it was raising the prices of all of its multi-channel plans by $5 per month. The change will be effective starting today for new subscribers. Existing subscribers can expect the price increase in their billing statements on or after July 31st.
What we're buying: 'Typeset in the Future'
This week, Senior Editor Kris Naudus takes a look at a book that will please both sci-fi nerds and design geeks. 'Typeset in the Future' explores the typography and design in science fiction movies such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Trek, and more.
Sling TV's sports add-on just got more expensive for some users
Sling TV is once again raising prices, and you won't be thrilled if you're a sports enthusiast. New customers for the Sling Orange package now have to pay $10 per month for the Sports Extra channel bundle instead of the previous $5. Existing customers will see the rate hike take effect from August 1st onward. That's the same price that Sling Blue customers were already paying for Sports Extra, but it also means you're looking at a minimum of $25 per month when you combine the sports pack with any base plan.
Apple offers free repairs for faulty 2018 MacBook Air logic boards
Some owners of Apple's current-generation MacBook Air might be due for a free but important fix. Reports from 9to5Mac, AppleInsider and MacRumors indicate that Apple has found a logic board problem with a "very small number" of MacBook Air units that will warrant free repairs for up to four years after the original purchase date of a given machine. The company hasn't detailed the nature of the issue or added the Air to its official repair extension page, but the symptoms can include "power," according to 9to5Mac.
Samsung's Bixby Marketplace launches in the US and South Korea
Bixby may be the forgotten child of virtual assistants, but Samsung is still hoping it can break through and compete with the likes of Siri, Alexa and Cortana. The company has opened its Bixby Marketplace in the US and South Korea, where users can download services to customize their assistant.
Amazon’s Fire TV Recast DVR box is $100 off today
If you've been considering a Fire TV Recast, now is the time to buy - the DVR is on sale for its lowest price ever. From today, the Recast is on sale for $129.99, a saving of $100.
Ask Engadget: Can the police make me unlock my smartphone?
The support shared among readers in the comments section is one of the things we love most about the Engadget community. Over the years, we've known you to offer sage advice on everything from Chromecasts and cameras to drones and smartphones. In fact, our community's knowledge and insights are a reason why many of you participate in the comments. We truly value the time and detail you all spend in responding to questions from your fellow tech-obsessed commenters, which is why we've decided to bring back our "Ask Engadget" column. This week's question concerns the legal side of technology. Weigh in with your advice in the comments -- and feel free to send your own questions along to ask@engadget.com! What are my rights (as a US citizen) if the police ever ask me to unlock my phone?
The best 2-in-1 tablets for 2019
Two-in-1 tablets are far from perfect. But just because there isn't a flawless laptop replacement today doesn't mean you can't get a tablet that's good enough to get some work done on the road. Tech's biggest players are falling over themselves to push out these devices, giving the premium-tablet category new life. It's easy to see why people would want these hybrids: They offer the power and productivity of a notebook in the thin and light body of a tablet. But there isn't an operating system yet that's versatile enough to work as well as a tablet as it does as a desktop (or vice versa). So as you approach this decision, it's worth thinking about which mode is more important to you.
Apple starts selling diabetes monitors in its stores
Apple's health push now includes more tools for diabetics. Apple retail stores have started carrying a diabetes tracking product -- in this case, One Drop's blood glucose monitor. It's not a continuous monitor (you have to lance yourself), but its Bluetooth connection to your iPhone and Apple Watch helps you track blood sugar levels with the devices you already use every day. It sells for $70 and includes a year's worth of coaching from a diabetes educator.
How much did you love your Sega Dreamcast?
It's been over 20 years since Sega released its final console. Loved by many for its stellar lineup of games like Shenmue and Sonic Adventure, the Dreamcast was the first system to include a built-in modem for online play. And then there were its distinct, spaceship-shaped controller and unique Visual Memory Unit for saving your games. Though Engadget wasn't around to review the Dreamcast when it was released, dozens of users have left scores and reviews for the console on its product page over the years. From calling it "highly innovative for its time" and being "awed by its graphics and performance," users largely seem to feel nostalgic and affectionate towards the obsolete game system, which currently has an average score of 80.
eBay promises 'can't-miss' deals if Amazon crashes on Prime Day (again)
July is almost upon us. That means it's nearly time for Amazon's huge Prime Day sale, which it's expanding to two days this year. But, like Target, eBay isn't content to give its rival all the spotlight, and plans to be right there with its own deals. eBay is running its own Crash Sale on July 15th, aka the first half of Prime Day.
Steam's Summer Sale for 2019 gives you the chance to win free stuff
It's that time of the year again when you can't help but empty your wallet to stockpile on Steam games you'll probably never touch. Steam has launched its Summer Sale event for 2019, and it'll last for the next two weeks until July 7th 10AM PDT/1PM EDT. You know the drill: Steam sales offer the PC games available on its platform at very, very low prices -- sometimes, the prices are even far too low and the games far too many for your poor bank account. This year, the most notable games on sale include Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Skyrim and Resident Evil 2 remake.
T-Mobile will offer the Galaxy S10 5G starting June 28th
Starting this Friday, the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G will be available through another carrier. T-Mobile is adding the handset to its lineup, though for now you'll only be able to pick one up from certain stores in cities where its 5G network is switched on.
Sony XB900N review: Solid noise cancellation for under $300
Since the debut of its 1000X line, Sony has given Bose a run for its money when it comes to noise-canceling headphones. In fact, the 1000XM2 and 1000XM3 are arguably better than the QuietComfort 35 II Bose introduced in 2017. Now Sony wants to offer a worthy alternative to Bose in its more affordable Extra Bass line with the WH-XB900N. While this new model doesn't have the same level of noise-canceling power as the 1000XM3, there's a lot to like for $250.
