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Spotify podcast Memberships let you pay shows directly, with perks like exclusive episodes
It's now easier to support your favorite podcasts beyond listening to ads. Spotify is launching Memberships, or paid podcast subscriptions, that can provide perks to loyal listeners.
These 5 plugins turned my Obsidian notes into a daily dashboard
Information wants to be free. But to get the most out of it, you need some sort of organization. Having an Obsidian database full of notes, kanban boards, outlines, and information from unconventional sources is fantastic. But it is kind of useless if you can't find anything. I considered creating a Table of Contents or organizing my tabs better than I already do, but that's kind of a pain. So I built a Dashboard instead, using a few different plugins.
Your 'dead' Ryobi battery might not be dead after all
It's just the understood thing that if your Ryobi battery has four flashing lights, it's dead and it's time to buy another. What if I told you that wasn't the case? There are actually a few things to try to bring a "dead" battery back to life—and one basically involves performing surgery on the battery. Here's what the lights actually mean, why it happens, and what you can do before recycling that "dead" battery and buying a new one.
Yaga isnt the show Hudson Williams fans want it to be
There's so much to want to love in Canadian series Yaga, from its small-town mystery to its hints of folklore and witchcraft. But the biggest draw of all is undoubtedly its cast, which includes Carrie-Anne Moss, Noah Reid, Clark Backo, and Heated Rivalry breakout Hudson Williams.
SEE ALSO: 2026 fall TV preview: Every show you should know aboutYaga is Williams' first major project to come out since the runaway success of Heated Rivalry catapulted him and co-star Connor Storrie to stardom. With that comes an opportunity for Williams to further showcase his range beyond his Canadian Screen Award-winning work as Shane Hollander. It's a shame, then, that Yaga gives Williams and his co-stars so little to latch onto, in a dark feminist fable that feels more hollow than revelatory.
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What's Yaga about? Noah Reid and Clark Backo in "Yaga." Credit: Crave / Christopher LawrenceBased on the play by Kat Sandler, who also serves as showrunner, Yaga invites us to the small town of Whittock, where Henry Park (Williams), heir to a powerful fishery owner, has gone missing. Enter private investigator Rapp (Reid) and local police detective Carson (Backo), who are paired — reluctantly, on Carson's end — to get to the bottom of this mystery.
What begins as a standard missing persons investigation soon becomes something darker and stranger. Chicken carcasses hang menacingly on doors. Bloody symbols mar crime scenes. Through it all, Rapp hears whispers of Baba Yaga, a legendary witch from Slavic folklore known for living in a house on chicken legs and flying around in a mortar and pestle. Could Henry's disappearance be tied to the occult? Given that the whole series opens with images of an unknown figure being burned at the stake, and that each episode opens and closes with a voiceover monologue from a wizened witchy figure, the answer appears to be an unequivocal "yes."
SEE ALSO: 'Crystal Lake' review: Linda Cardellini slashes her way through this bloody Friday the 13th prequelSo the stage is set for a strange, folkloric mystery. Yet Yaga's witchiness never truly sings. Too often, the show resorts to the same style of surreal fakeout dream sequences, where a stream of bloody feathers and foreboding masks blends into a shorthand for horror without truly scaring. The voiceovers, presented as coming from Baba Yaga herself, offer up platitudes about women who have been othered as witches, but they feel familiar to anyone who's ever read a "we are the granddaughters of the witches you couldn't burn" bumper sticker.
Hudson Williams pulls double duty in Yaga. Hudson Williams in "Yaga." Credit: Crave / Christopher LawrenceAt the center of this witchy vortex is Williams' Henry, who mostly haunts Rapp and Carson's investigation in flashbacks, including a steamy podcast recording with him and intriguing professor Katherine (Moss), an expert in all things bone. Henry's not alone: Williams also plays Logan, Henry's roommate, podcasting partner, and doppelganger. (Yaga sticks Williams in a prosthetic nose and fake acne for the Logan role, and the result is a jarring trip to the uncanny valley.)
A dual role should be rich territory for any actor to mine, yet neither Henry nor Logan get enough screen time for Williams' double turn to truly sink in. Henry is primarily a confident, if sleazy, charmer, while Logan is mostly presented as an awkward, almost wooden foil to that charm. Logan was not a character in the original stage play, and it shows in his thinness here.
Yaga introduces a fascinating thread about Logan perhaps wanting to be (or maybe be with) Henry, but it rarely pulls it beyond the occasional unsettling sex scene. While onscreen intimacy can often be a great showcase of character dynamics, here, these scenes are often over too fast or accompanied by a voiceover that explains said dynamics without letting the actual performances breathe.
As Yaga unfurls, Henry and Logan become much more sinister figures. While the thought of Williams taking a villainous turn is an exciting one, his Henry and Logan don't make particularly compelling villains because we know so little of them. Yaga's leads don't tend to fare much better. Moss is slippery fun as Katherine, but too often she remains on the margins. Backo and Reid's buddy cop dynamic is punchy, yet often dragged down by Rapp's incessant flirting. That most of the women in Whittock practically throw themselves at him is one of Yaga's most infuriating features. As it happens again and again and again, these women's advances bypass sexual empowerment and move straight into bewilderment.
Yaga gestures out to interesting concepts, but ultimately, it never dives deep enough. As an examination of witchcraft as a conduit for female rage, it's not angry enough. As an erotic thriller, it's not titillating enough. As a mystery, its twists and turns are intriguing, but never quite captivating. The ingredients for success are there, but they never quite come together to cast the right spell.
How to watch Sabah vs. Dortmund online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Sabah vs. Dortmund in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Champions League is back this week with some crucial matchups, including Sabah vs. Dortmund. Both teams are on three points after two games, so a win here would help safeguard their playoff positions.
We're expecting a close game that could go either way, but Dortmund will be confident of gaining the upper hand here. Dortmund are still unbeaten in the Bundesliga and possess the talent to beat any side on their best day.
If you want to watch Sabah vs. Dortmund in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Sabah vs. Dortmund?Sabah vs. Dortmund in the Champions League kicks off at 12:45 p.m. ET on Oct. 20. This fixture takes place at the Baku Olympic Stadium.
How to watch Sabah vs. Dortmund for freeSabah vs. Dortmund is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.
Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access it for free with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Sabah vs. Dortmund for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland
Visit Virgin Media Player
Watch Sabah vs. Dortmund for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Sabah vs. Dortmund (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries, including Ireland
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.
Live stream Sabah vs. Dortmund in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.
The new Pokémon Plantopia Switch 2 collection is live: Where to buy the wireless controller and gear
PowerA and Pokémon have come together once again, this time with a new hardware drop celebrating the franchise's 30th anniversary.
The Pokémon Plantopia collection is officially live and available exclusively through the Pokémon Center. The botanical aesthetic features fan favorites like Bulbasaur, Leafeon, Rowlet, and Sprigatito, plus a certain Pikachu.
We like everything in this limited-edition drop, but the star is undoubtedly the Advantage Wireless Controller. PowerA didn't just slap a sticker on a cheap gamepad. This officially licensed controller packs up to 30 hours of battery life, two mappable advanced gaming buttons on the back, and a solid two-year warranty.
There's no pressure to invest in the whole collection, but pairing the controller with matching travel accessories is seriously tempting. The crossbody travel bag is designed to hold your Switch 2 console, cables, and power bank. The Pikachu storage case holds up to 12 Switch game cards with dedicated slots for matching microSD cards.
We're honestly a little surprised to still see stock for this collection. This is one of the cleanest 30th-anniversary drops you can buy directly at retail price without paying inflated reseller rates (for now).
5 Milwaukee tools you can't get from Ryobi
Most homeowners have a power tool or two, and there's a good chance it's made by Milwaukee, Ryobi, Kobalt, or some other company. While many of these brands typically offer the same tools, like drills and impact wrenches, each has a few unique or specialty tools you probably don't know about.
I revived my old Pixel phone with GrapheneOS, and it's better than ever
Google has a bit of a problem when it comes to supporting old Pixel phones. They were promised to get five years of support, but the reality of that promise isn't what people expected. Thankfully, GrapheneOS exists as a simple way to extend the life of an old Pixel phone.
Final Fantasy Resonance doesnt hit as hard as the classics, but its still a fun throwback
My first exposure to a certain type of Final Fantasy fan occurred in 2006, when a friend of mine angrily insisted that a game can't be Final Fantasy if it doesn't have turn-based combat.
This was in response to the hybrid real-time combat of Final Fantasy XII, and series developer Square Enix has been forsaking that kind of guy in the two decades since. There hasn't been a traditionally turn-based mainline Final Fantasy in 25 years, which makes Final Fantasy Resonance exciting. A new title assembled using assets from the mobile title Brave Exvius, Resonance follows in the footsteps of last year's Octopath Traveler 0 in turning a phone game into a console experience that will live after its predecessor's servers are inevitably shut down.
Resonance is not as large or audacious as Octopath was, and its main story relies a bit too much on tropes and concepts from previous Final Fantasy stories to stand on its own. Thanks to pleasurable combat that's wonderfully easy to bust wide open and a solid sense of exploration, this throwback RPG was worth the 40 or so hours it took me to finish.
SEE ALSO: 'Zelda: Ocarina of Time' is my favorite video game ever. After playing the remake, I get the vision. Final Fantasy Resonance is full of ideas you've heard beforeThe best Final Fantasy games have some of the most emotionally affecting and thought-provoking stories you'll find in any big-budget RPG. I often put Final Fantasy X, in particular, on a pedestal thanks to its compelling combination of gut-wrenching romance and an examination of how theocracy can take hold over a society.
All of that is to say that Resonance doesn't reach those heights. Its story concerns a ragtag group of adventurers traveling around the world to stop some evil dudes in cool armor from destroying elementally attuned crystals, in hopes of preventing a global catastrophe. Resonance occasionally hints at greater storytelling ambitions in some of the areas you travel to, such as the desert nation of Zoldaad, which is embroiled in a tense revolutionary fervor against a despotic king. Generally, though, you don't spend enough time in these areas for their individual plotlines to carry much weight, and the game thematically falls back on basic ideas like "the power of the human spirit" too often.
This over-reliance on well-trodden concepts extends to the primary cast of characters. They're endearing enough thanks to decent English voice acting and some solid character-specific sidequests, but for the most part, they adhere to archetypes you've probably seen before. Rain, the protagonist, is a blonde guy with a big sword. His friend Lasswell is a brooding katana wielder, Nichol is a stern, strategic mage, and Sakura is a centuries-old sorceress who has the appearance of a child.
I don't dislike any of these people, and I'll admit that by the very end, Resonance crossed the low bar of making me care about what happened to them. But all of it goes in the exact "let's go save the world" direction that you think it will, and the final villain was kind of a nothingburger for me.
The combat always kept me guessing, even with awkward menus Expect to see this a lot. Credit: Square Enix/SteamWhile Resonance never reaches the narrative heights of its predecessors, the turn-based combat is pretty excellent. It's exactly what you'd want out of an old-school-style Final Fantasy experience: Enemies on the left, party on the right, and every offensive or healing spell can either be cast on a single unit or on multiple units, just like the classics. Enemies have elemental weaknesses, everyone is susceptible to all sorts of negative status effects, and smart use of buffs can win the day for you. It's good stuff.
To its credit, Resonance blends retro-style design with more modern ideas. There's a visible turn order on screen (really stretching the definition of "modern" there), you can optionally adjust the speed of battle, and every enemy has a stagger meter underneath their health bar that, when depleted, paralyzes them for a turn and makes them highly vulnerable to damage. Stagger every enemy onscreen in one turn, and you get a bonus phase where every character gets to act, and you get to unleash a huge, flashy super attack.
The menus are a little overbearing. Credit: Square Enix/SteamThose super attacks come from "visions," ghostly spirits that you equip to a party member, whom the visions hang out behind during fights. I am a huge fan of the vision system's gameplay ramifications, as it acts as a sort of soft class system. Each vision imbues its attached party member with a new moveset of unique, upgradable moves tied to specific elements, giving each vision a defined role in combat.
And yes, these visions are mostly cameo characters from previous Final Fantasy games. Cloud, Terra, Squall, Tidus, and other assorted protagonists from past titles are all here, with one representative from each mainline game. This is sort of a double-edged sword; I appreciate this system as a clever way to reuse assets from the mobile game, but it also means Resonance occasionally hinges too much of its excitement on making you do the Leonardo DiCaprio pointing at the screen meme because you saw a guy you recognized from another game.
This guy will show up in anything. Credit: Square Enix/SteamSquare is lucky that Resonance is a pretty good game in its own right, as all these cameos otherwise just remind you of games with better characters and stories.
Even with too much weight placed on references, Resonance consistently whetted my appetite for this style of combat thanks to smart encounter design that encourages regularly switching visions in and out of different situations. The only issue here is that the menu design makes that kind of a chore. It just takes one or two extra button presses to get to a full list of your visions, and figuring out who is best for each situation is a slower process than it should be as a result.
Resonance will do until the next proper FF comes around The cutscenes are excellent. Credit: Square Enix/SteamWe don't know when the seventeenth (!!!) mainline Final Fantasy is coming, nor what form it will take. Until then, Resonance is a satisfying appetizer of sorts.
Aside from the quality combat, Resonance kept me going by giving me an airship relatively early and letting me explore the world as I saw fit. Of course, the story progresses in a linear fashion, and lots of areas are inaccessible until you see a certain cutscene, but there are lots of little islands, caves, and other fun things to discover if you take the time to explore. By the end of the game, my party was overpowered as hell because I had put the effort in to find things that would give me advantages in fights.
That sort of thing was missing from the last mainline title, Final Fantasy XVI, so I appreciate its inclusion here.
Love this stuff. Credit: Square Enix/SteamIts soundtrack also deserves a shout-out. Composer Noriyasu Agematsu channels the classics reasonably well with battle themes that drive up the adrenaline, overworld themes that set an appropriate mood for each area, and cutscene tracks that make the otherwise middling story developments feel emotional.
As a fun bonus, Resonance also looks and runs great on Switch 2. It's probably the best-looking game in the "HD-2D" style yet, and the cinematic pixel art cutscenes are especially jaw-dropping at times. The frame rate drops a little bit here and there, but not enough to appreciably distract from the experience.
Final Fantasy Resonance often feels more like a really good cover band than a member of the original act, but that's OK. The end result serves as a reminder that Square Enix is still perfectly capable of making games in this style. Hopefully it's a sign of better things to come for the mainline series.
Antigravity A1 unveils Watch Remote for 360-degree drone
Drone company Antigravity has launched new wrist- and finger-mounted remote controls for the Antigravity A1, allowing users to fly the 360-degree video drone without a headset. These more subtle control options mean users can now capture some very impressive selfie footage without goggles getting in the way.
SEE ALSO: Review: Is the Antigravity A1 drone the DJI replacement we've been hoping for?Introduced in December last year, the Antigravity A1 aims to offer high-quality 360-degree video while still being easy for amateurs to pilot. At the time, the A1 could only be flown using Antigravity's Vision goggles and Grip controller, both of which came bundled with the drone.
However, while this control scheme offered an immersive and intuitive experience, the Vision goggles prevented drone pilots from seeing what was around them. This limited A1 users' situational awareness, meaning they needed a spotter to watch both the drone and its pilot when flying. The FAA requires recreational pilots to maintain visual line of sight with their drone, or else have an observer watching who is in direct communication with them.
Credit: AntigravityThe Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle has now addressed such limitations with its Watch and Ring Remotes, new control options that allow users to use their drone without the Vision goggles. This means Antigravity A1 users can film themselves without their faces obscured as well as fly it solo, making the drone much more versatile.
The Watch is the undisputed star of the Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle. Drone pilots can use the Watch's 1.72-inch touchscreen to manually control the A1, or capture quick cinematic shots by selecting from preset movements such as Arc Out and Spiral Ascent. They can also use it to circle a subject on the move with Orbit Follow, choosing between clockwise and counterclockwise.
In addition to this, the Watch Remote's arguably most useful function is its ability to easily set up the Antigravity A1's Deep Track feature, including to track the drone pilot themselves. Simply select a subject, and the A1 drone will automatically follow and film them as they move at a maximum pace of around 22.4 mph (11 m/s). Users can choose where the drone is in relation to their subject (behind, ahead, or to the sides), as well as its elevation, and adjust these settings during flight.
As such, the Watch is a great accessory if you want to capture hikes, cycling, skiing, or other adventures where you're on the move. All you need to do is set up tracking and let the Antigravity A1 take care of the filming while you monitor its flight. The 360-degree footage means you'll have plenty of framing options afterward as well.
Though the Watch can be used to operate the A1 on its own, the Ring must be used in conjunction with the Watch. After using the Watch to select a tracking subject, users can press and hold the Ring's single button to control the A1 drone with hand gestures. This new Drag-To-Fly feature allows you to move your arm up and down or left to right to move the drone in that direction, as well as rotate your arm toward or away from you to change its distance (though you can only move it along one plane at a time unless in Orbit Follow mode).
Mashable's first impressions found that the Ring Remote doesn't feel as easy or precise as the Watch's manual touchscreen sliders, and can get uncomfortable if you're constantly changing your drone's position. Still, users may find it handy for quick adjustments, and the Watch Remote alone makes the Follow Me Bundle an incredibly handy investment for Antigravity A1 owners.
Credit: AntigravityAlongside the Watch and Ring remotes, the Follow Me Bundle also introduces new Full-Coverage Propeller Guards that can be snapped onto the A1's arms, fully encasing its four propellers in lightweight plastic cages. While the A1's obstacle avoidance system is intended to prevent any collisions, it's still reassuring to have that extra security for peace of mind.
The Propeller Guards do need to be detached and reattached every time you want to fly, and add some extra bulk you need to consider when carrying your A1 to your launch site. Fortunately, the Follow Me Bundle comes with a crossbody bag to help you keep things organized.
The Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle includes the A1 drone, and is available now for $799 through the Antigravity website and Best Buy. The Follow Me Accessory Kit without the A1 drone is $339.99, while the Full-Coverage Propeller Guards are $39.99. However, existing A1 owners can get a 20 percent discount on the Accessory Kit and Guards, bringing them down to $271.99 and $31.99, respectively.
The best part of Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is the setting, not the minigames
There may not have ever been a darker time to like and care about Nintendo games than the late 2000s into the early 2010s.
By that point, the shine on the Wii had dulled, and the Wii U was not the savior many of us had hoped for. Even the 3DS launch in 2011 was relatively weak, prompting a price drop and a series of make-good programs within six months. But throughout all of that, one little place managed to penetrate through the darkness: Wuhu Island, the tropical setting of games like Wii Sports Resort and Pilotwings Resort.
Nintendo has opted to resurrect Wuhu Island in a new game for the first time in more than a decade with Nintendo Switch Sports Resort for Switch 2, an expanded sequel to 2022's Nintendo Switch Sports and a far-off successor to Wii Sports. A lot of the Wii Sports greatness is still intact, with fun motion-controlled minigames to keep you engaged, but easily my favorite part of the game is Wuhu Island itself.
SEE ALSO: Save $10 on preorders for Nintendo's 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' remake Yes, the minigames are good Sadly, I don't think you can recreate O.G. Anunoby's game 4 tip-in here. Credit: NintendoI want to be very clear before I mostly talk about the environment this game is set in — the minigames themselves are pretty good.
There are a dozen of them this time around, almost double the number in Nintendo Switch Sports. You've got classic Wii Sports mainstays like tennis, bowling, and boxing, to go along with newer entrants like thumb wrestling, basketball, volleyball, and archery. All of them are controlled exclusively by motion inputs with Joy-Con controllers, and for the most part, they work fine.
I especially dig thumb wrestling, which requires you to place your thumb down (and thus make yourself momentarily vulnerable) in order to charge up a powerful attack later on. There's something psychologically thrilling about it, and winning that one against another person is particularly satisfying. Skateboarding, which uses mouse controls to accelerate, steer, and jump, also works surprisingly well, even without a proper flat surface.
Getting a strike still feels great. Credit: NintendoAnd yes, bowling and golf are probably still the highlights 20 years later. Both are impressively motion-accurate and just about as easy to pick up and play regardless of your experience level with video games as they've ever been.
I have some gripes here and there. Boxing was stupid in Wii Sports back in the day and hasn't improved much since, feeling awkward, messy, and never quite as responsive as you'd like. Regular tennis also doesn't feel like it's changed much since 2006, but that's somewhat alleviated by the inclusion of table tennis, which I find more accurate and easier to play.
Pretty much everything can be played in online lobbies with friends, and that works about as well as one could expect. Mastering each sport rewards you with achievements and points that you can use to purchase cosmetic items for your characters, giving each game a nice little incentive to keep you going. You get points for playing offline now, too, fixing one of the biggest problems with Nintendo Switch Sports.
All in all, it's a solid collection of sports minigames, with boxing being the only one I really don't care for. But who cares about that? Let's go on vacation.
But Wuhu Island is what it's all about This is just fun. Credit: NintendoNintendo Switch Sports Resort also introduces three of what the game calls "leisure sports," which are less about strenuous physical activity and more about cruising around Wuhu Island on a jet ski, a skateboard, or in a prop plane. These are the real winners to me because they put Wuhu Island front and center.
As you cruise, skate, or fly around the island, you can find sightseeing spots, landmarks, and even all of the places where the other minigames happen. There is something a tiny bit magical about soaring over Wuhu and stumbling upon the table tennis area. This version of Wuhu is much larger than it was back in the day, which, to me, only enhances the joy of realizing that every minigame in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort takes place in one big, contiguous space, rather than a series of contextless arenas.
It's such a simple, small thing, but it really does help give Nintendo Switch Sports Resort an identity that the last game didn't have. Nintendo also packed the game with goofy little descriptions of each landmark you can discover, injecting some much-needed personality into something that could have been sterile.
I should note that, despite a relatively simple art style that harkens back to the Mii days (you can optionally play as a Mii, even), Nintendo Switch Sports Resort leverages the power of the Switch 2 to create a visual experience that's sharp, clean, colorful, and smooth all the way through, even while power cruising around the honestly pretty large locale it's set in.
Wuhu Island really is the ultimate vacation destination for your Switch 2, and I hope Nintendo keeps it alive in further family-friendly games like this one.
The 6 best character cameos in Final Fantasy Resonance
Sometimes it's fun to see an old homie you haven't seen in a while. Final Fantasy Resonance understands that, to great effect.
The new throwback-style RPG from Square Enix remixes assets from the mobile game Brave Exvius into a single-player console and PC adventure, complete with turn-based combat inspired by the classics. "Visions," ghostly apparitions of characters from previous Final Fantasy games, are a big part of the combat, with each one imbuing their associated main party member with new powers and powerful special moves that can turn the tide of any fight.
With that in mind, I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about my six favorite visions in Final Fantasy Resonance. Some are here just because I think they're cool, and others because of their role in combat. Let's get into it.
SEE ALSO: Save $10 on preorders for Nintendo's 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' remake Cloud We all know this dude. Credit: Square Enix/SteamThis is sort of like including water on a list of best beverages, but I had to do it anyway. Cloud, the protagonist of Final Fantasy VII, is a pretty good Final Fantasy protagonist in his own right, thanks to a compelling case of mistaken identity and a very cool, very big sword.
But what makes him great in Resonance is that, as a vision, he can break the combat wide open. He grants whichever character equips him huge bonuses to critical hit rate and damage. If you play your cards right over the course of the game, you can use Cloud to do unbelievable amounts of damage and end boss fights shockingly quickly. His elemental combination of water and lightning is also useful in many different situations.
Vaan Ugh. Credit: Square EnixI should make something clear: I really don't like Vaan, who is technically the main character of Final Fantasy XII. I say "technically" because his inclusion in that game feels like a mistake. He doesn't have much to contribute to the proceedings and is, charitably, like the fifth most interesting character in that game's party. He's also just kind of annoying.
But I'm not here to talk about Final Fantasy XII. I'm here to talk about Resonance, and in Resonance, Vaan can do some incredible things. His vision can automatically jack huge amounts of money and even items from defeated enemies, making it nearly impossible to run out of cash on your adventures. He also has the ability to grant fellow party members more actions per turn. Seriously, Vaan is kind of broken in Resonance, and it has made me respect him more.
Terra 'FFVI' rocks. Credit: Square EnixTerra is included on this list for a couple of reasons. First, I just love Final Fantasy VI. It's one of the very best games in the series, and her role in the story is a big part of that. Her journey over the course of that game gives it a solid emotional core and makes her feel like the closest thing its sprawling ensemble cast has to a real protagonist.
She also happens to kick ass as a vision in Resonance. Her loadout is complete with several different kinds of magic and, eventually, an extremely important ability that gives party members the ability to do more than 9,999 damage in one hit. She's arguably the most important vision in the entire game for breaking combat.
Tidus This isn't his story, but he's in it. Credit: Square Enix/SteamThis is mostly a sentimental inclusion because Final Fantasy X is my favorite game in the series. Tidus is an effective fish-out-of-water protagonist in that game, and his ultimate fate is one of the most heartbreaking moments in video game history.
SEE ALSO: 25 years later, the 'Final Fantasy X' opening song still rocksHe's also, as it turns out, a pretty effective vision in Resonance. His elemental affinities for water and wind come in handy in lots of encounters, and his associated party member gets a passive damage bonus just for having any kind of buffs applied to them. Some of his abilities were key to my playthrough, and maybe they can be for yours, too.
Lightning She's so cool. Credit: Square Enix/SteamLightning is so cool, man. Final Fantasy XIII rocks. The haters can get lost. It's got one of the best combat systems in any RPG, and she's a great protagonist.
She's good in Resonance, too, but that's sort of beside the point. I like the big special move she does when you stagger every enemy onscreen. Check it out when you get the chance.
Gilgamesh That's a big bridge. Credit: Square EnixGilgamesh is not, to the best of my knowledge, actually a vision in Resonance. This pompous, eccentric weapon collector debuted in Final Fantasy V and has made a series of appearances in other FF games since then, usually accompanied by one of the best boss fight songs in the history of the medium.
That is exactly how it goes when you encounter Gilgamesh early in Resonance's main story, and later in some side quests. He shows up, acts like kind of a buffoon, and you hear the song. It's perfect. That's all you need from Gilgamesh.
Sony is giving away custom team-edition XM6 headphones for free — how to claim
TL;DR: Sony is giving away custom XM6 headphones for five teams (Cowboys, Broncos, Patriots, Steelers, and Seahawks). They aren't available in stores, but fans can enter the online sweepstakes through Nov. 30 for a chance to win a pair.
Sony is bringing game-day style straight to your ears with a brand new lineup of limited-edition XM6 wireless noise-canceling headphones. Clad in custom NFL team designs for five iconic franchises, these custom cans give football fans a fresh way to rep their squad on and off the field.
There is just one catch: you cannot actually buy these. Sony isn't putting these on store shelves, instead making them available exclusively through an official, limited-time giveaway running from Oct. 19 through Nov. 30.
Which teams are included?The custom collection covers five major NFL franchises: the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Seattle Seahawks. Each pair wraps Sony's top-tier active noise cancellation and high-resolution sound quality in official franchise graphics and colors.
Credit: SonyAs the Official Headphones of the NFL, Sony builds the sideline coach headsets used during games — which are inspired directly by its flagship 1000X series. This drop brings that exact sideline connection to fans. Since Sony makes some of the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy, adding custom team gear turns a great pair of cans into an awesome collectible.
How to score a pair for freeThe best part is that entering takes less than two minutes, costs absolutely nothing, and requires no qualifying purchase. You literally have nothing to lose and a flagship pair of custom wireless headphones to gain, so you might as well throw your name in the hat.
The sweepstakes is open to legal U.S. residents across all 50 states and D.C. who are 18 or older (19+ in Alabama and Nebraska; 21+ in Mississippi). There is a strict limit of one entry per person or email address. You can sign up directly by visiting Sony's main program page or via team-specific landing pages before the entry window closes on Nov. 30 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET.
Free flagship headphones decked out in your team's gear? Signing up is a no-brainer.
This open-source adapter turns any USB keyboard into a Home Assistant control panel
Home Assistant offers a ton of ways to interact with your devices, from voice control to virtual buttons on dashboards. Sometimes, however, the most convenient option is to use a real physical button. The KeyBridge project allows you to use your old USB keyboards as smart home controllers, giving you a whole keyboard full of smart buttons.
The era of 8K TVs is ending before it even had a chance to begin
TVs have progressed when it comes to image quality at a steady pace. From small black-and-white tubes to full-color broadcasts, EDTVs, HD, and today's 4K UHD. From the 300K-ish pixels in a 480p SD image to the over eight million pixels in a 4K TV. It's an enormous leap.
How to easily record and screenshot on Googlebook OS
The era of Googlebooks has arrived (if Google has its way), and that means a lot of time spent learning how to get the most out of a brand-new operating system that aims to combine the best parts of ChromeOS and Android. That also means a new Screen Capture tool for the moments you want to record the action happening on screen, or to take a simple screenshot. Here's what you need to know to master this new tool.
DJI Osmo Pocket 4P review: This upgraded creators favorite targets semi-pro videographers
DJI is actively defending its position as king of handheld gimbal cameras this year, releasing not one but two follow-ups to its popular Osmo Pocket 3. The Osmo Pocket 4 already features noticeable improvements compared to its predecessor, offering better image quality, a smoother gimbal, and even easier operation.
The dual-lens DJI Osmo Pocket 4P offers all this and more, providing an even greater upgrade that's specifically targeted toward professionals. With more filming options and a wider dynamic range, the Osmo Pocket 4P remains easy for the average person to pick up and start using, while still offering flexibility for more professional production workflows.
SEE ALSO: DJI's Osmo Pocket 4P has launched globally. But it still isn't coming to the U.S. DJI Osmo Pocket 4P: Build, controls, and performance Credit: A. YeoThe Osmo Pocket 4P's build is similar to the 4 in many ways. Though slightly larger and heavier, the 4P has the same 1,000-nit rotatable two-inch touchscreen, a USB-C port on the bottom of its handle for file transfer and charging, and a magnetic hot-swap attachment point on the gimbal hinge. It has 103GB of internal storage, slightly less than the 4's 107GB, and can similarly use microSD cards.
Like the Pocket 4, the Pocket 4P also adds two new buttons not found on the Pocket 3: a zoom button and a customizable button (by default, it switches whether the thumbstick controls the camera's zoom or the gimbal's tilt). These buttons are hidden under the touchscreen until it's turned into landscape mode, meaning they're inaccessible while you're shooting in portrait.
Credit: A. YeoWhere the Pocket 4P noticeably differs is in its dual-lens build. The Osmo Pocket 4 has a single wide-angle lens (20mm equivalent focal length) with a one-inch sensor. Meanwhile, the Osmo Pocket 4P boasts two lenses: a 20mm equivalent wide-angle lens on an upgraded one-inch sensor, and an additional 60mm mid-tele lens with a 1/1.28-inch sensor. This mid-tele lens allows the 4P to offer more background compression, as well as lossless zoom.
Unlike the Insta360 Luna Ultra's horizontal lens configuration, the Osmo Pocket 4P stacks its two lenses on top of each other for a cyclops-like aesthetic. These lenses face outward when the camera is turned off, which is a notable difference compared to DJI's single-lens gimbal cameras. These cameras turn their lenses to face their gimbal arms when not in use, giving them a little extra protection against accidental scratches. However, the added bulk of the 4P's extra lens makes such a maneuver both impractical and futile.
Credit: A. YeoInterestingly, the Pocket 4P doesn't come with either a full-length hard protective cover like the Pocket 3 or a handy little gimbal clamp like the Pocket 4. Instead, it relies entirely upon a soft fabric carrying pouch for protection, and isn't compatible with the hard protection options that come with the Pocket 3 or 4. As a result, the 4P does feel less protected, particularly with the 4 offering both a clamp and a pouch together. It feels like an odd choice, given the 4P is also a larger investment.
Fortunately, given the popularity of DJI's cameras, there are already numerous third-party 4P cases available. Still, that's an additional expense you'll have to factor in if you want the extra security.
The Osmo Pocket 4P is available in both Classic Black and Pearl White colorways, letting users choose whether they want a more traditional look or prefer to stand out. Both options come with accessories in their matching color, specifically the carrying pouch, a wrist strap, a hot-swappable Fill Light accessory, and a Handle with 1/4" Thread.
Credit: A. YeoThough the 4P's official protection options are less robust, it does offer other hardware perks. Both the Osmo Pocket 4 and 4P are technically compatible with DJI's Osmo FrameTap remote control, which was first introduced with the Osmo Mobile 8P smartphone gimbal earlier this year. However, the FrameTap isn't sold separately, and the only gimbal camera bundles that currently include it are the 4P's Vlog Combo and Vlog Combo Plus.
Like the Insta360 Luna Ultra's detachable remote, the Osmo FrameTap allows you to control and monitor your filming from a distance — a boon to solo creators struggling to film themselves. The FrameTap is usable at distances up to 82 feet in good conditions (though DJI recommends sticking to under 32 feet for stability), and, once paired with the 4P, will automatically reconnect when turned on.
However, while the Luna Ultra's remote lets you do everything you could if you were holding the camera itself, the FrameTap's functionality is more restricted. Features such as framing grids are unavailable, while zoom and gimbal movement are both controlled by the thumbstick. As such, you're left without the advantage of the 4P's two new buttons. Users must use the FrameTap's touchscreen to switch between the two functions instead, as on the Pocket 3. In contrast, the Insta360 Luna Ultra's remote gives you physical controls for both gimbal movement and zoom, with a dedicated zoom slider alongside its thumbstick.
Credit: A. YeoDJI's Osmo FrameTap is also considerably smaller than the Luna Ultra's remote, measuring around half as long with a screen that's approximately two-thirds the size. It's a significant difference considering that both remotes' screens are already rather small. While the FrameTap's size is great for portability, allowing it to be quickly thrown into a bag or jacket pocket, it is comparatively less comfortable to hold and operate. The FrameTap seems easier to lose as well, as it can't attach directly to the camera for safekeeping like the Luna Ultra's remote. Overall, the FrameTap offers a comparatively less functional, less enjoyable user experience, which is worth seriously considering if you plan to use remote recording often.
On the other hand, Pocket 4P users do get the benefit of still being able to operate their gimbal camera even if they misplace the FrameTap. The Insta360 Luna Ultra's remote is simply its on-camera controls detached, and isn't replaceable. As such, losing or damaging it would leave you unable to use the device at all.
DJI Osmo Pocket 4P: Image quality A screenshot from footage filmed with the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P. Credit: A. YeoWhen it comes to image quality, the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 and 4P are very similar, with the same sensor size on their main lenses and the same video resolution and frame rate options. Both max out at 4K 60fps standard video, 37 MP still images, 4K 240fps slow-motion video, and 4K 30fps motionlapse video (essentially timelapse but with the gimbal moving).
As such, the differences between the two cameras are more apparent in the details. While the Osmo Pocket 4 has a minimum focus distance of 20 cm, the 4P's wide-angle lens more than halves that to 9 cm. This means that it can focus on objects that are much closer, helping creators get in close for intimate detail shots. The 4P has a faster shutter speed and significantly wider ISO ranges in all shooting modes as well, helping to give it an edge and better capture details when filming in low-light environments.
Both the Pocket 4 and 4P offer DJI's proprietary 10-bit log profile, D-Log. However, the latter also debuts the new 10-bit D-Log 2. While the original D-Log profile boasted a respectable 14 stops of dynamic range, the improved one-inch sensor on the Pocket 4P allows D-Log 2 to bump this up to 17 stops, according to DJI. Shooting in a log profile initially makes footage appear flatter and more washed out straight out of the camera, but actually captures a wider dynamic range. This helps retain detail and allows for more flexibility when color grading in post, letting editors match looks across multiple cameras and shoots, or just really make their footage pop.
Credit: A. YeoThe 4P does have a slightly smaller tilt range compared to the 4 (-125° to 58° compared to -120° to 70°), likely due to the larger housing required for the dual lenses. Its operating time is around half an hour shorter as well, running for approximately 210 minutes at its lowest settings as opposed to 240 minutes. Even so, Mashable didn't find these to be noticeable drawbacks during everyday use. Users can also attach a Battery Handle accessory for an extra 130 minutes of runtime, allowing you to film for over five hours without charging. Both devices charge via USB-C, so a wall plug or standard battery pack is always an option as well.
However, the 4P's primary selling point is its second lens: a mid-tele lens with a 60mm equivalent focal length and its own 1/1.28-inch sensor. This lens provides the 4P with 3x optical zoom and up to 12x digital zoom (though not all magnifications can be used with all the camera's modes). Longer lenses such as this produce more background compression as well, which is often desirable for portrait shots — a popular use for DJI's handheld gimbal cameras.
However, it's also worth noting that though the 4P's mid-tele lens and D-Log 2 are two of its most prominent new features, they can't be used together. D-Log 2 is only supported on 1x zoom, leaving the mid-tele lens restricted to D-Log 1's fewer stops of dynamic range.
Credit: A. YeoWhen shooting standard video on auto with the 4P and the Insta360 Luna Ultra, Mashable found that the cameras produced slightly different looks due to how they handle elements such as white balance and exposure. The Luna Ultra did a much better job of capturing the warmth of the low sun at golden hour, while the 4P's white balance tuned it back to a cooler tone. The 4P had more noticeable swings in exposure when quickly moving between environments with significant contrasts in lighting as well, such as transitioning between full sun and shade. However, the Luna Ultra's tendency toward brighter shadows caused more dramatic swings in exposure when moving between two relatively dim areas, with the 4P making the transition feel more gradual and stable.
While the Luna Ultra's telephoto lens has the same 60mm equivalent focal length as the 4P on paper, Mashable's comparative testing further found that footage from the latter appeared slightly more zoomed in or cropped, with noticeably shallower depth of field. The difference in depth of field is likely attributable to the 4P's mid-tele lens having an aperture of f/1.8, compared to the Luna Ultra's f/2.
Credit: A. YeoUltimately, both the 4P and Luna Ultra gimbal cameras perform extremely well, offering impressive post-production flexibility and solid straight-from-camera footage. As such, rather than purely considering image quality, or remote functionality, users may choose between them based upon whether they're already invested in DJI or Insta360's ecosystems. The 4P is easily compatible with DJI microphones such as the Mic 3 and Mic Mini 2S, with users able to directly connect to two such transmitters at once.
Should you buy the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P? Credit: A. YeoWhile the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P is now available in the UK, Canada, Europe, and Australia, and launched in Asia earlier this year, those in the U.S. will have a harder time getting their hands on it. The U.S. government's hostility toward DJI has significantly hindered the company's business in the country, leaving its products unavailable for purchase through its official U.S. website. Those in the U.S. who want to buy an Osmo Pocket 4P will therefore have to go through a third party to do so.
This also means that there's no official U.S. pricing for the Osmo Pocket 4P. However, the official Australian pricing puts its Standard Combo bundle at AU$959 (around US$670 at the current conversion rate), while its Vlog Combo with the Osmo FrameTap remote is priced at AU$1,009 (around US$705). In comparison, the Osmo Pocket 4 Standard Combo is priced at AU$769 (around US$537), while the Insta360 Luna Ultra starts at US$769.99 for its Standard Bundle.
Considering the differences in functionality and price, users who are primarily concerned with remotely controlling their gimbal camera may find the Luna Ultra more attractive. However, if you don't need that functionality and already own some DJI equipment, the Osmo Pocket 4P provides easy filming and great image quality for prosumers, vloggers, and content creators keen to upgrade their setup.
How to watch PSG vs. Barcelona online for free
TL;DR: Live stream PSG vs. Barcelona in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Champions League is all about huge games between the best teams in the world, and it really doesn't get any bigger than PSG vs. Barcelona.
It's the defending champions against a team that a lot of fans think will go all the way this season. They are first and second in the standings after two games, scoring a combined 19 goals. Both teams are absolutely packed with elite talent, so expect dazzling displays from the likes of Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembélé. It's going to be a goalfest, right?
If you want to watch PSG vs. Barcelona in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is PSG vs. Barcelona?PSG vs. Barcelona in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Oct. 20. This fixture takes place at the Parc des Princes.
How to watch PSG vs. Barcelona for freePSG vs. Barcelona is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.
Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access it for free with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream PSG vs. Barcelona for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland
Visit Virgin Media Player
Watch PSG vs. Barcelona for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream PSG vs. Barcelona (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries, including Ireland
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.
Live stream PSG vs. Barcelona in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.
This Samsung Odyssey gaming monitor is $1 away from its lowest-ever price on Amazon — save $100
TL;DR: The Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G3 (G30D) gaming monitor is on sale for $129.99 at Amazon, down from its $229.99 list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G3 (G30D) $129.99 at Amazon$229.99 Save $100 Get Deal at Amazon
Upgrading to a high-refresh-rate gaming monitor doesn't necessarily mean spending thousands of dollars, especially if you're happy to stick with 1080p resolution for upcoming games like GTA 6. Samsung's more affordable Odyssey G3 is one of the best go-tos for that sort of use case, and Amazon has dropped the price down to close to its best-ever rate.
As of Oct. 20, the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G3 (G30D) is available for just $129.99 at Amazon, saving you exactly $100 on its $229.99 list price. This puts the monitor just $1 away from its record-low Amazon price of $128.99 from mid-2025, which we confirmed when checking the price tracker camelcamelcamel.
The Odyssey G3 features a 27-inch VA panel with Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080), an 180Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms MPRT response time.
SEE ALSO: Why wait for Black Friday? The Asus ROG Strix 27-Inch OLED gaming monitor has never been chaper.Whilst you won't get the sharper QHD visuals offered by other Samsung Odyssey models, such as the G5 monitor, this combo is still a solid upgrade for fast-paced games like Fortnite and Valorant, as well as big triple-A releases like Grand Theft Auto 6 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.
AMD FreeSync is thankfully included as well, to help minimize screen tearing and stuttering. Along with Samsung's Black Equalizer to brighten darker areas to spot enemies more easily, there's also Virtual Aim Point, which places an adjustable crosshair on your screen for extra aiming assistance.
As a great extra for both gamers and home office workers, the Odyssey G3's three-sided borderless design even makes it suitable for dual-monitor setups, while the stand supports height adjustments, tilting, swiveling, and pivoting.
To make longer gaming sessions a touch more comfortable, this Samsung unit’s Eye Saver Mode and flicker reduction are the cherries on top in terms of value for money.
Magic: The Gathering Star Trek Play Booster Box preorders hit lowest-ever price at Amazon — save almost $70
TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Star Trek Play Booster Box is on sale for $139.99 at Amazon, down from its $209.70 list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Star Trek Play Booster Box $139.99 at Amazon$209.70 Save $69.71 Preorder at Amazon
With Magic: The Gathering's Star Trek crossover now less than a month from release, Amazon has made its 30-pack Play Booster Box more affordable than ever. We thought the $165.61 preorder we covered earlier in October was good, but the retailer has found room to go another $25 cheaper.
As of Oct. 20, the Magic: The Gathering Star Trek Play Booster Box is now available to preorder for just $139.99 at Amazon, giving you a huge $69.71 saving against its $209.70 list price. Not only is that the lowest price we’ve seen at the retailer (confirmed via the price tracker camelcamelcamel), but the 33% off means you’ll only be pay $4.67 per pack.
It's being sold and shipped by Amazon itself, rather than a third-party seller, meaning the retailer's preorder price guarantee applies. Should Amazon lower its price again before the set arrives on Nov. 13, you'll pay the lowest eligible price offered after placing your order.
SEE ALSO: Magic: The Gathering's Marvel Darkhold Destiny Arcanum Bundle is way below market price on AmazonIn case Amazon runs out of stock, Walmart is also selling MTG’s Star Trek Play Booster Box for $139.99 through third-party seller Cataclysm Games, with free shipping estimated for Nov. 20. That said, if you’d like to save as much money as possible, legit unopened listings on TCGplayer are going for as low as $137.40. That’s only $2.54 higher than the Booster Box’s estimated market price of $134.86.
This packed MTG Star Trek box contains 30 Play Boosters, with 14 cards in each, featuring characters, ships, and stories from across 60 years of the iconic sci-fi franchise. Every pack has at least one Traditional Foil and between one and four cards of rare rarity or higher, with alternate-art and alternate-border possibilities.


