Topic: subscription services
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Video Game Prices Are Soaring and Confusing Shoppers
Modern gaming has become complex and costly, with consumers facing confusing subscription tiers, frequent price hikes, and upgrade paths that overwhelm even dedicated players. Microsoft's Game Pass exemplifies this trend, with a significant price increase for its Ultimate tier to $29.99 per month...
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Ex-Xbox VP: Game Pass Popularity Hurts Game Sales
Subscription gaming services like Game Pass may undermine game sales and developer sustainability by not adequately compensating creators for their content. Even successful games on these platforms can see reduced direct revenue, making studios vulnerable despite high player engagement. The model...
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Ubisoft UK: Gamers Prefer Live Service Over One-Time Purchases
Ubisoft UK is shifting from traditional one-time game purchases to live service models due to projected declines in physical software sales and overall revenue. This change is driven by consumer trends favoring subscription services, games-as-a-service, and free-to-play titles, leading players to...
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Win Back Lost Customers with a 'Welcome Back' Program
A welcome back email program re-engages returning customers by acknowledging their history and fostering stronger connections, applicable across various industries. Key components include accurate data to identify returnees, tailored messaging based on past behavior, and a sequenced journey to pr...
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Top Video Doorbell Cameras for 2025: Expert Picks & Reviews
Smart video doorbells enhance home security and convenience by enabling remote communication with visitors via smartphone, offering real-time alerts and live views. Key selection factors include aesthetic design, affordable storage options, accurate motion detection, high-definition video quality...
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Tesla Ends Direct Car Sales Model
Tesla is strategically pivoting away from its core automotive business, discontinuing flagship models to focus on autonomous vehicles, robotics, and subscription services. Despite most revenue still coming from declining car sales, the company is betting heavily on software, with plans to shift i...
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My Weekend With a Family-Watching AI Got Strange
The author tested Google's Gemini for Home AI, which provided real-time descriptive alerts of household activities, improving on generic security notifications with specific details like identifying family members versus strangers. While real-time alerts were mostly accurate, the system's daily H...
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Arlo Launches New AI-Powered Smart Home Security Line
Arlo Technologies has launched a new lineup of smart home security cameras, featuring AI integration and options from budget-friendly to high-performance models, including innovative 360-degree pan tilt cameras for comprehensive surveillance. The Arlo Secure service, starting at $6.67 per month, ...
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California Bans Predatory Early Cancellation Fees
A new California law (AB 483) protects consumers from unexpected early termination fees in installment contracts by requiring transparency and capping fees at 30% of the contract's total value. The legislation mandates that businesses clearly disclose cancellation charges upfront, preventing them...
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'Revenge of the Savage Planet' Director Slams Game Pass Model Despite Millions of Players
"Revenge of the Savage Planet" received critical acclaim and attracted over a million players but underperformed financially, particularly on subscription services like Xbox Game Pass. Creative Director Alex Hutchinson criticized subscription models for failing to generate sufficient revenue, not...
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LG Q3 2025 Earnings Report: Key Financial Results Revealed
LG Electronics achieved its second-highest Q3 revenue ever at KRW 21.87 trillion, driven by strong performances in Home Appliance and Vehicle Solution divisions despite external challenges like U.S. tariffs and a cooling EV market. The company's strategic focus on B2B solutions, non-hardware vent...
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Whoop Opens Blood Testing to 350,000-Person Waitlist
Whoop Advanced Labs has launched its blood testing service for a waitlist of 350,000, offering comprehensive analysis through Quest Diagnostics to monitor various health indicators. The service integrates blood test results with data from the Whoop band on activity, sleep, and vital signs to prov...
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ROG Ally X Sells Out Amid Microsoft Gaming Strategy Backlash
The ASUS ROG Ally X handheld gaming PC sold out quickly after launch, offering strong performance for certain games but is hindered by its high price and several compromises, preventing it from being the ultimate mobile gaming device. Microsoft's Xbox division is struggling with lower console sal...
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Ditch Cloud Storage: My DIY Photo & Video Backup Solution
Cloud storage subscriptions create a recurring financial cost and cede control of personal data to a third-party company, unlike a one-time hardware purchase. Using an external hard drive offers a permanent, cost-effective alternative, providing ownership and independence from corporate policy ch...
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Gaming Market to Hit $350M by 2030, Recovering in 2026
The global gaming market is projected to reach $350 million in revenue by 2030, driven by a robust recovery and significant growth in the mobile segment, particularly through alternative app stores. Cloud gaming is expected to transition from a niche to mainstream, with revenue projected to surge...
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The Frustrating Truth Behind Car Software Updates
Tesla leads the automotive industry in over-the-air (OTA) updates, delivering frequent and transformative software improvements that enhance vehicle performance and functionality long after purchase. Traditional automakers lag significantly in OTA capabilities, typically offering only minor annua...
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PS5 Is Sony's Most Successful Console Generation Ever
The PlayStation 5 is Sony's most profitable console generation ever, driven by increased spending on free-to-play games, microtransactions, and subscription services rather than just higher hardware sales. Several upcoming game releases were announced, including *Possessor(s)* for November 11 and...
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Don't Wait to Buy a Console – The Price of Patience
The traditional expectation of console prices dropping after launch has been upended, with current-generation consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S maintaining or increasing their prices due to factors like international tariffs and shifting market conditions. Console manufacturers are moving...
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Top Deals: AirTags & Budget Gaming Laptops This Week
Apple's four-pack of AirTags is available for $64.99, offering seamless tracking via the Find My network and features like precision finding for iPhone 15 users and water resistance. Lenovo's Legion 5 gaming laptop is discounted to $1,049, featuring a high-resolution OLED display, powerful AMD Ry...
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Amazon's DoorDash Dilemma: What It Means for You
The rise of AI agents is challenging traditional customer relationships by acting as intermediaries, potentially reducing service providers to commodity suppliers and threatening their revenue from ads and loyalty programs. This issue, known as the "DoorDash problem," affects major platforms like...
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Hyundai Requires Permission to Change Your Own Brakes
An Ioniq 5 N owner found that replacing rear brake pads requires a specialized Hyundai diagnostic tool to disengage and recalibrate the electronic parking brake, making the task inaccessible without official equipment. Access to the necessary software demands a costly subscription, expensive hard...
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Elon Musk's xAI used employee biometric data to train AI girlfriend
Elon Musk's xAI required employees to provide personal biometric data, including facial and vocal characteristics, to develop its anime-styled female chatbot Ani, as part of the secret "Project Skippy" initiative. The collected biometric information was intended to make the AI's conversations mor...
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Xbox Boss: Game Pass Receiving Biggest Ever Investment This Year
Microsoft is making its largest-ever investment in Xbox Game Pass in 2024, focusing on expanding the library with diverse games and has signed first-time deals with over 50 developers. The service sees strong recurring interest from developers, with over 150 partners returning to include future p...
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PS Plus & Game Pass Fees Prove PC Gaming Saves Money Long-Term
It's been a long while since I took a huge and ambitious leap into the gaming PC ecosystem, and with it have come plenty of highs and lows. It ultimately brings me to the understanding that PC gaming is a cheaper expense in the long term versus consoles. PS Plus and Xbox Game Pass multiplayer access isn't 'fine', it's ridiculousAnd of course, there's the elephant in the room, which is PS Plus and Xbox Game Pass. It gets worse with the 'Premium' plan that essentially replicates Xbox Game Pass, bu...
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New World: Aeternum Ends Content After Season 10
Amazon Games has confirmed that no new content will be developed for *New World: Aeternum* beyond Season 10: Nighthaven, marking the end of major updates due to layoffs and a shift to maintenance. The servers will remain active with ongoing support for bug fixes and server stability, and the fina...
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Is a $1,000 Handheld the Future of Gaming?
The ROG Xbox Ally X, priced at $1,000, is a handheld Windows PC with an Xbox interface, signaling a shift away from traditional, subsidized console pricing models. Microsoft is redefining Xbox as a brand beyond a single console, releasing games on rival platforms and exploring hardware like the A...
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Apple AirTag Controversy: Tracking Tim Cook's Lost Fans?
Apple launched a refined second-generation AirTag with practical upgrades like better precision finding, but the product release was overshadowed by broader scrutiny of the company's leadership. CEO Tim Cook faced significant public criticism for attending an exclusive White House event, which ma...
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The Hidden Cost of Expensive Batteries
Power tool manufacturers, including Milwaukee, are being investigated for potentially omitting essential battery features like cell balancing, which is crucial for battery health and longevity. Research involving intentional battery imbalance tests on a Milwaukee battery showed no evidence of int...
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Ring's New Feature Ends Camera Notification Overload
Ring is launching Single Event Alert on November 6th, an AI-powered feature that consolidates multiple motion alerts from one incident into a single notification to reduce notification overload. The feature builds on existing AI Video Descriptions by analyzing summaries to intelligently group rel...
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Beyond the Box: The New Era of PlayStation and Xbox
The gaming industry is shifting from hardware-centric competition to prioritizing software sales, subscription services, and cross-platform accessibility. Exclusive titles once drove console loyalty, but now major games often support cross-play and are released across multiple platforms, includin...
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Are Rising Prices the End of Game Consoles?
The video game industry is experiencing unprecedented price increases for major consoles, breaking the traditional pattern of price reductions over a console's lifespan and challenging consumer expectations. These price hikes are driven by a combination of external factors like geopolitical insta...
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Top Products I'd Buy from CES 2026
The Consumer Electronics Show highlights practical, market-ready innovations like electric cargo bikes, moving beyond mere concepts to tangible tools for personal transportation and home tech. A transportation editor's structured digital life prioritizes essential apps and curated entertainment, ...
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Black Friday's Top-Selling Kid Console Is Now $50 Off
The Nex Playground, a motion-controlled gaming console for children, is currently discounted by $50 at major retailers like Best Buy and Walmart, making it a more affordable holiday gift option. The console achieved strong sales, ranking as the third best-selling home console during Black Friday ...
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Cyberpunk 2077 Sells 35 Million Copies Worldwide
Cyberpunk 2077 has sold over 35 million copies globally in five years, surpassing The Witcher 3's sales pace and marking a major commercial success for CD Projekt. The game and its Phantom Liberty expansion are the primary revenue drivers, contributing 72.4% of the company's sales in the third qu...
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Netflix Adds Red Dead Redemption to Mobile Games
Netflix is adding *Red Dead Redemption* and its *Undead Nightmare* expansion to its gaming library at no extra cost for subscribers starting December 4th, as discovered through listings on iOS and Android app stores. The game is also set to appear on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and the rumore...
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Apple TV Plus Name Change: Eddy Cue Explains Why It's Not Confusing
Apple has rebranded its streaming service from "Apple TV+" to simply "Apple TV," with Eddy Cue stating the timing was right for this change to reflect its market position. The "Plus" suffix was initially used to align with other premium services but was dropped as the service became established a...
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Save $80 on Ugreen's 8-Port Thunderbolt 4 Hub
The Ugreen Revodok Max 208 8-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 dock is on sale for $169.98, offering extensive connectivity with Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB-A ports, gigabit ethernet, and 85W power delivery. It supports dual 4K monitors for most devices or a single 8K monitor for compatible Windows laptops, simpli...
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Escape Awkward Situations with SwitchBot's Fake Call Tracker
The SwitchBot Safety Alarm is a $39.99 keychain device that functions as both a personal safety tool and a smart home accessory, integrating with smart locks to send arrival notifications. In emergencies, pulling the keychain activates a 130dB audible alarm and flashing strobe, automatically aler...
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Garmin eTrex Touch: Nearly a Month of Battery Life
The Garmin eTrex Touch is a rugged GPS navigator with a 3-inch touchscreen and preloaded maps, designed for reliable outdoor use at a price of $449.99. It features exceptional battery life, lasting up to 130 hours normally and extending to about 650 hours in expedition mode for nearly a month of ...
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Lockly's New Smart Locks Add Matter & NFC Support
Lockly's new Affirm Series smart locks feature native Matter compatibility and built-in Wi-Fi for broad ecosystem support and easy setup, with multiple access methods including NFC via cards or smartphones. The company is also launching the TapCom platform for rental management with video interco...
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Top Gadgets for Your Pet in 2026
The Petlibro AI-powered Scout Smart Camera uses AI to recognize and log pet activities like eating and drinking, providing remote monitoring and daily highlight reels via a subscription service. GPS pet trackers like the Life360 model offer real-time location alerts and geofencing for safety, whi...
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Google's Black Friday Deals Return: Save on Earbuds & Phones
Google's holiday sale offers significant discounts on popular devices, with products like the Pixel 9a and Pixel Buds 2a returning to their all-time lowest prices. The unlocked Pixel 9a is a premier smartphone deal at $349, featuring a vibrant display, capable camera, and a promise of seven years...
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Preorder the Slick Magnetic Phone Controller Now
The MCon magnetic smartphone gaming controller addresses touchscreen limitations with high-performance features, a slim design, and magnetic attachment, now preorderable at $145. It includes ergonomic grips, Hall-Effect triggers, anti-stick drift joysticks, a gyroscope, and a button-activated sli...
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The Elusive Quest for the Perfect Grocery List App
Finding the right grocery list app can transform a stressful chore into a streamlined process, but no single app provides a universal solution, with options like Paprika offering flexibility and one-time payment benefits. The author adopted a hybrid approach, using a paper planner for meal planni...
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Amazfit Active 2: Our Top Fitness Tracker Is Just $81
The Amazfit Active 2 offers premium features like a bright OLED display, water resistance, and long battery life at an affordable price of $80.74, making it a high-value fitness tracker. It includes advanced navigation with offline maps and support for five global satellite systems, along with a ...
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Roland Embraces Its Legacy, Not Just Its Past
Roland established its legacy with iconic analog instruments like the TR-808, which profoundly influenced genres from hip-hop to pop and defined the sound of the 1980s and 90s. In the 2000s, Roland shifted to digital products and nostalgic branding, which alienated fans and allowed competitors li...
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Top Fitbits for Your Fitness & Health Goals
Fitbit offers user-friendly fitness trackers that balance essential health metrics with reliable activity monitoring, making them suitable for everyday wellness tracking rather than advanced athletic needs. Key evaluation factors for Fitbit devices include battery life, health metric accuracy, an...
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Nest Doorbell 2K: Higher Resolution, Wider Field of View
The Nest Doorbell 2K features a significant resolution upgrade to 2048 x 2048 and a wider 166° diagonal field of view for sharper imagery and reduced blind spots. It retains key features like night vision, two-way audio, and weather resistance, with an operating temperature range of −4°F to 104°F...
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This Unexpected Device Outsold Every PS5 and Xbox in the US
The Nex Playground, a motion-controlled cube console, achieved the second-highest unit sales in the U.S. for a key holiday week, outselling every individual PS5 and Xbox Series X|S model, though combined sales of all PlayStation or Xbox variants remained higher overall. This success follows a sim...
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Unmissable Gaming Deals: RTX 5080 PCs Under $2,000 & Alienware Laptops
Early Black Friday deals include significant discounts on gaming hardware, such as an Nvidia RTX 5080 desktop under $2,000 and refurbished Alienware laptops with premium specs at reduced prices. Notable promotions feature Apple AirPods Pro for $139, the Calvin and Hobbes hardcover box set at $86....
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