If you haven’t upgraded to the latest generation of gaming consoles, this might be the opportunity that you’ve been waiting: Walmart has slashed the prices of Microsoft’s Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X. From its original price of $299, the Xbox Series S is down to $268 for $31 in savings, while the Xbox Series X, which is originally $499, is on sale for $448 for a $51 discount. Xbox Series S and Series X deals don’t appear often, so you’re going to have to be quick with your purchase if you want to take advantage of either of these offers.

Microsoft Xbox Series S — $268, was $299

Microsoft Xbox Series X — $448, was $499

Microsoft Xbox Series S — $268, was $299

The Xbox Series S is the budget-friendly version of Microsoft’s latest video game consoles, as it eschews the disc drive and goes fully digital. It’s also surprisingly portable, so it’s an excellent choice if you think you’ll be traveling a lot with your gaming console in tow. It’s still capable of playing the best Xbox Series X exclusives and the best Xbox Series X games, so you won’t be missing out on any titles, and if its 512GB SSD is too small for you, you’ll be able to get more space by installing a storage expansion card. It’s highly recommended that you sign up for an Xbox Game Pass subscription though, as not only will you gain access to online multiplayer modes, but you’ll also be able to download and play titles from a massive library as long as your membership remains active.

Microsoft Xbox Series X — $448, was $499

The Xbox Series X is the more powerful console in Microsoft’s current-generation lineup. In addition to its disc drive, the advantages of the Xbox Series X, as highlighted in our Xbox Series X versus Xbox Series S comparison, include more impressive internal specifications, such as 12.15 teraflops of processing power and 16GB of RAM over the Xbox Series S’s 4 teraflops of processing power and 10GB of RAM. The Series X also has the ability for up to 8K gaming, and higher frame rates and increased fidelity for certain video games. For most gamers, the Xbox Series X will be a better purchase, especially if you sign up for Xbox Game Pass.

If you’re already in the Google ecosystem because of a smartphone like the Google Pixel, then it makes sense that you’ll want to stay within it when you’re thinking of snagging some great smart home devices. On the bright side, Google has some of the best home security cameras, best thermostats, and even the best video doorbells, so you’re not losing a ton by staying within Google’s product range; plus, you get the benefits of it all being on one system. That said, some of what Google has to offer can get quite pricey, especially if you’re buying several things like cameras for your whole home, which is why we’ve gone out and collected some of the best deals we could find.

On the other hand, if you’re not tied to the Google ecosystem and want some alternatives, check out these security camera deals and Ring doorbell deals as well.

Google Nest Hub Deals

The Google Nest Hub is a solid device for you to use as your base of operation. As the name suggests, it lets you control your whole home from just one device and, depending on the version you get, also offers some interesting features, like sleep tracking. The screen and speakers are also nice to have if you’re cleaning around the house or cooking in the kitchen and want to play some music or a show in the background while you do stuff. While they aren’t always on sale, we’ve done our best to find the best deals for them out there.

Nest Hub 7 (2nd Gen) —
Nest Hub 10 —

Google Nest Camera Deals

Keeping track of what goes on inside and outside of your home is important, and that’s where something like the Google Nest Cam and the associated devices come into play. It has good video, a relatively solid amount of storage, and works both inside and outside. You can also get a version with a floodlight reminiscent of Amazon’s own Ring Floodlight Cam, so if you’d rather stick to the Google ecosystem, that’s also a great option. Also, if you’re planning to deck your whole property with Nest Cams, then a three-pack will get you $10 off compared to buying just three individual ones.

Google indoor Nest Security Cam 1080p (Wired) —
Google Nest Security Cam (Wired, 2nd Generation) —
Google Nest Cam Outdoor or Indoor (Battery, 2nd Generation) —

Google Nest Doorbell Deals

When most people think about video doorbells, the first thing their mind sees is the Ring Video Doorbell, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only game in town. If you don’t want to buy into the Amazon ecosystem, then Google’s Nest Video Doorbell is just as great, if not arguably better than Amazon’s offering. There are a couple of versions, depending on what you want, so be sure to check both deals out before taking the plunge.

Google Nest (Wired, 2nd Gen) —
Google Nest Wi-Fi Video Doorbell —

Google Nest Thermostat Deals

Keeping track of dealing with a thermostat can be a contentious issue in a big household, but with the Google Nest Thermostat, it at least becomes a lot more convenient. As part of the Nest app, you can not only set the temperature but also track usage and suggest when it should be turned down or altered based on your schedule. It’s an excellent device if you want to expand your smart home to your HVAC system and a must-grab if yours is compatible and you’re in the Google ecosystem.

Google Nest Smart Programmable Wifi Thermostat —
Google Nest Learning Smart Wifi Thermostat (renewed) —

Google has announced its largest range of new phones ever under the umbrella of the Pixel 9. Composed of the Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the foldable Pixel 9 Pro Fold, this is the most advanced and largest Pixel range ever. If you’re looking to buy a new Android phone, then these are likely to be near the top of your list to check out.

These new phones sport a close link to Google’s Gemini AI and the most advanced cameras we’ve ever seen on a Pixel device — but do they have everything? Do they, unlike most flagship phones in 2024, have headphone jacks? We know, and we’re about to tell you.

Does the Pixel 9 have a headphone jack?

So, is there a headphone jack? No. That’s a wrap; thanks for coming, everyone — remember to tip your waitress.

None of the Pixel 9 phones have headphone jacks, not even the massive Pixel 9 Pro Fold, one of Google’s biggest phones. Outside of the USB-C port, there’s no extra port on any of these phones, which is likely to be a disappointment for anyone still hanging onto their wired headphones.

It’s not much of a surprise. Google hasn’t included a headphone jack on a flagship Pixel phone since the very first Pixel, which means it’s been almost six years since the venerable port was axed by Google. The Pixel A range kept hold of the port for a while longer, but it eventually disappeared by the time of the Pixel 6a.

So, really, that was all she wrote for the headphone jack on Pixel phones. We don’t expect we’ll ever see the port back in another Google-built smartphone.

What are the best ways to listen on your phone then?

Does not having a headphone jack mean you have no choice but to never listen to music on your phone ever again? No, not at all. There exist a number of ways to connect headphones or speakers to your phone that don’t require a headphone jack.

The first and most popular method is through a Bluetooth connection. While this lacks the high-definition connection that audiophiles love, most people will be fine with the quality Bluetooth 5.3 allows for. Plus, losing wires means there are no more annoying snags when you move around. On the downside, you need to keep Bluetooth headphones charged separately from your phone, so they’re not quite as convenient as wired headphones. Still, the positives outweigh the negatives in our opinion.

Bluetooth headphones used to be quite pricey, but that’s no longer the case. Sure, getting a high-spec pair will cost you, but you can get great pairs for less than you might think. Check out our list of the best Bluetooth earbuds to see what great options are out there. Prefer a set of cans? We also have a list of the best Bluetooth headphones too.

But perhaps you have a really nice pair of wired headphones. We get it; there are some really nice ones out there. Thankfully, there are ways you can keep using them with your new phone. While they no longer come bundled with phones, USB-C to 3.5mm adapters still exist, and one can be used to connect your headphones to your phone.

Just like Bluetooth headphones, we have a list of the best USB-C to 3.5mm adapters around, so you can check those out and attach one to the end of your wired headphones. Then, you’ll be able to use them just like before, but plugging into the USB-C slot instead. Unfortunately, that does mean you won’t be able to charge your phone at the same time unless you use a wireless charging pad.

When it comes to the iPhone 16, fans grasp tightly to every tidbit and nugget of information that comes across their feed.  Last week, we reported on a potential new brown color option for the iPhone 16 Pro, and the reception to it was mixed, to be generous.

The likelihood of this being a real color choice for the iPhone 16 Pro has been strengthened thanks to known leaker Majin Bu’s post on X. This leaker has a solid track record for Apple, hitting the nail on the head more often than not. They describe the color as “Desert Titanium” and say it looks more like a dark gold.

Bu’s post shows an up-close image of the camera ring, including the new color first seen in the leak from last week. You can see the new image above.

This fits with what we’ve seen from Apple before. Apple tends to have one specific color reserved for its Pro lineup. For the iPhone 15 Pro, that was “Blue Titanium,” so the naming convention is on par with previous generations.

Apple should hold its next iPhone event in September. Exactly when is anyone’s guess, but going by the company’s past history, you can expect it on the second Tuesday or Wednesday of the month, either the 10th or the 11th this year.

Not sure what to expect? Chances are good that we’ll see the iPhone 16 lineup officially announced and confirmed. There’s also a chance of news on other Apple products, too.

This new Desert Titanium color is a bit of a disappointment, and it’s too bad that it isn’t a true Rose Gold (I’d buy that — it matches my wedding ring). Still, it’s still nice to see a break from the usual blacks, whites, and grays that so often dominate phone color choices.

To say it’s controversial would be an understatement. Digital Trend’s Christine Romero-Chan said it was the “worst iPhone color” she’s ever seen, contrasting the Desert Titanium with Google’s Pixel 9 color lineup and its bright, more cheery options.

Baldur’s Gate 3 will be getting new evil endings for players who want to see their characters and companions suffer. Developer Larian Studios revealed a teaser on X (formerly Twitter) for one of these new endings, which are all accompanied by new cinematics.

This one is specifically for the Dark Urge, whose background is summarized as: “You remember nothing but a path paved with blood. Unimaginable cruelty whispers to you from within. Can you escape it? Would you even want to?”

If you want to go into your next playthrough blind, you’ll want to skip the rest of this article and the teaser below (spoilers ahead).

Father would be so proud.

Embrace your destiny and feast your eyes on a new evil ending cinematic teaser for the Dark Urge, landing this September

Warning: contains spoilers! pic.twitter.com/1TkwDGqyle

— Baldur's Gate 3 (@baldursgate3) August 19, 2024

It doesn’t look great for your companions, but if you’re going through an evil playthrough, you probably could’ve guessed that.

This is the biggest look we’ve gotten so far at some of these new evil cinematics. Larian previously published two GIFs that don’t reveal much, although it also released a snippet of one of the new pieces of music by game composer Borislav Slavov.

All of this is a part of Patch 7, which is set to release in September. It’ll be bringing along the new cinematics, along with improvements to the Dark Urge, a modding toolkit with a native mod manager, an overhauled split-screen mode, changes to the permadeath Honor Mode, bug fixes for just about every Origin character, and a lot more.

Larian Studios is moving on from Baldur’s Gate 3, and Patch 7 will be one of the last major updates. The company is still working on some promised additions and fixes, though, including the addition of crossplay and a photo mode.

Robot vacuums are great if you’re the sort of person who doesn’t enjoy having to clean up dust and debris every day, especially if you’re living in a place with lots of pollution or dirt around. Of all the brands of robot vacuums out there, probably one of the most well-known is Roomba, and if you’re thinking of snagging a robot vacuum for yourself, Roomba is a great choice. Sadly, they can get pretty pricey, especially if you want to go for something that has a self-emptying base, which is why we’ve gone out and collected some of our favorite Roomba deals below.

That said, if you don’t necessarily want a Roomba, you can check out these general robot vacuum deals, and for the more substantial messes, there are always these vacuum deals and cordless vacuum deals too.

iRobot Roomba i1 (refurbished) — $148, was $175

Another great budget option is the iRobot Roomba i1, which has a few extra functions that might be good for those who have pets and often deal with things like pet hair. It’s Wi-Fi connected and can be controlled by Google, plus it has all the mapping features that will keep it from constantly bumping into your walls and your furniture. That said, you do unfortunately miss out on having the self-emptying base station with this deal, but if that doesn’t bother you as much, then it’s well worth grabbing.

iRobot Roomba 694 — $170, was $275

The iRobot Roomba 694 is an entry-level model for the brand’s robot vacuums, but it won’t fall short in keeping your floors clean with its three-stage cleaning system that loosens, lifts, and suctions dirt and debris, and dual multi-surface brushes that work on all floor types. You can schedule when you want the robot vacuum to clean through the iRobot Home app or your preferred voice assistant, and once it’s done, it will return to its charging station where it will wait for the next session.

BUY NOW

iRobot Roomba Combo i5 — $229, was $350

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is an affordable way of getting both a robot vacuum and a robot mop in one device. It will simultaneously vacuum and mop your floor, with its four-stage cleaning system with dual multi-surface rubber brushes that can adjust to different floor types and a specialized microfiber pad that can remove dirt and dust. You can pair the robot vacuum and mop with the iRobot Home app so you can give it instructions through your smartphone, or through your smart home devices powered by Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, or Google Assistant.

iRobot Roomba j7 — $300, was $600

The iRobot Roomba j7 comes with Roomba’s standard features on its robot vacuum, including its three-stage cleaning system with dual multi-surface rubber brushes and an edge-sweeping brush, and compatibility with your smartphone through the iRobot Home app or your favorite digital assistant. This robot vacuum, however, is a smarter one than the others, as it can easily avoid other objects on the floor, including pet waste, and it uses Imprint Smart Mapping to allow you to control and schedule where and when it will clean.

iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ — $449, was $800

The iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ is featured in our roundup of the best robot vacuums as the best budget pick if you want a robot vacuum and robot mop in one device. You’ll have to manually swap out its bin to switch it between vacuuming and mopping, but it’s powerful at both functions. It will unload the dirt and debris that it picks up into its vacuum bin, which you won’t have to empty for up to 60 days, and you can fill the combo bin with water or a compatible cleaning solution of your choice.

iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ — $450, was $730

If you like the idea of the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, then you’ll love this bundle that includes the self-emptying base station, and while it does add well over $100 to the cost, it’s worth grabbing if you want to save yourself the hassle. The self-emptying base station has up to 60 days’ worth of trash collection, which makes the robot vacuum a lot easier to maintain in the long run. Otherwise, it’s exactly the same as the previous version, with the combo mop and other features.

iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ — $999, was $1,399

The iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ is among the brand’s top-of-the-line models for a robot vacuum and robot mop combo, as its Clean Base Auto-Fill Dock can hold debris that it picks up for up to 60 days, and water or solution for up to 30 days of cleaning. It also features a retractable mopping system that lifts itself to the top to prevent getting certain surfaces such as carpets wet. For tough stains such as muddy paw prints and intense spills, you can activate the SmartScrub option for back-and-froth scrubbing until your floor is spotless again.

More Roomba deals we love

We’ve come across many more robot vacuum deals that feature devices made by iRobot’s Roomba, and we’ve highlighted more of our favorites below. There’s always high demand for discounts on Roomba robot vacuums though, so don’t expect these offers to last for a long time. If you want to enjoy the potential savings, you’re going to have to choose the model that you want to buy and proceed with the transaction quickly — any delay will increase the likelihood that you miss out.

If you’re completely new to Microsoft Word, you’re probably wondering where to begin. You’ve come to the right place because we’ll get you started. From what you see in the Word window to how to save a document, this Word Tutorial for Beginners is for you.

Note: The information in this tutorial applies to Microsoft Word for 365 on Windows. While you may see varying terms, tool locations, or available options, most Word versions have the same basic features. Once you have whatever version you’re using downloaded and installed, you can jump right in.

How to create a new document

When you open Microsoft Word, you can create a new empty document or use a built-in template. To best get familiar with the application and the features we explain here, select a Blank document on the Home screen and follow along!

How to name and save document files

One of the most important things to learn about using Microsoft Word is naming and saving your documents. There’s nothing worse than putting hours of work into a document, only to find out you didn’t save it before closing it.

A good habit to start is to name and save the document as soon as you begin. You can then continually save it with the same name as you work on it. Another option is to use AutoSave, which is available to Microsoft 365 subscribers.

To name and save a new document, go to the File tab and select Save.
Choose a location to save the file and enter a name for it. By default, Word saves your document as a DOCX file format that is specific to Word. (Older versions of Word use the default DOC format.) Optionally, you can pick a different format below the file name if necessary
Select Save.

As you work on your document, you can use the Save button in the Quick Access Toolbar at any point. Alternatively, select File > Save. This ensures you won’t lose your work.

How to use AutoSave

To use AutoSave, you must subscribe to Microsoft 365. With this feature, the document saves occasionally and automatically as you work on it, which is convenient. It’s important to note that the file must be saved to OneDrive not locally on your device.

To enable the feature, turn on the AutoSave toggle in the title bar.
Select the OneDrive account if you have more than one.
Enter a name for the file and choose OK.

You’ll then see the AutoSave toggle enabled as you work on your document.

Get to know the interface

The next important aspect to learn about Microsoft Word is what you see in the application’s window.

Title bar: This is the bar at the very top of the window. It contains the Quick Access Toolbar on the left, which holds handy buttons like Save and Undo, the document name, the Search feature, and buttons to control the window.

Tabs: Below the title bar is the tab row. You’ll see tabs for Home, Insert, Draw, Design, Layout, and more. You open the tab you need to perform a task using the tools on the ribbon.

One exception is the File tab on the far left, which doesn’t have a ribbon. Instead, you’ll see a navigation on the left side that allows you to save, print, export, close, and access the settings. You can also use the right side on the File tab to create new documents and open recent ones.

Ribbon: Below the tab row is the ribbon that holds buttons and menus. When you open a tab, you’ll see tools in the ribbon for that particular tab. For instance, if you want to change your document’s appearance, you’d go to the Design tab and see tools for themes, formatting, colors, and page color.

Status bar: This is the bar at the bottom of the window. You can customize this area to show commonly needed details like page number, indicators like caps lock, and options for zoom. Right-click the Status bar to add or remove items.

The center of the Word window is the document workspace where you can simply begin typing to create an essay, article, report, résumé, and similar.

How to use the tabs and ribbon

As mentioned above, the ribbon holds buttons and menus that allow you perform actions. The ribbon is divided into sections, or groups, to help you find the tool you need.

The ribbon tools adjust depending on which tab you select. So, when you open each tab, you’ll see a different set of tools. Additionally, when you open a tab, it’s selected and you’ll see it underlined

Because there are many tools on the ribbon for each tab, here are just some of the most commonly used tabs and options.

Home tab

The Home tab’s ribbon contains the most basic actions you’d perform when creating a document. You have the Clipboard group to copy, cut, and paste; the Font group for style, size, bold, italics, and color; the Paragraph group for alignment, lists, spacing, and indents; and the Styles group with preformatted options such as titles, subtitles, headings, quotes, and emphasis.

You can also enable dictation, shop for add-ins, and open the Word Editor.

Insert tab

The Insert tab is where you go when you want to insert items aside from text in your document. You have the Illustrations group for pictures, shapes, icons, and charts; the Media group for video and audio; and the Header & Footer group for adding these document items.

You’ll also see tools to add a table, hyperlink, comment, WordArt, equations, and symbols.

Draw tab

The Draw tab lets you use pens, markers, and highlighters to draw on your document. You can also format the background, convert ink to a shape or math, and use the stencil.

Design tab

The Design tab gives you ways to change the appearance or style of your document. You can select from Themes, which provide colors and fonts, and Document Formatting, which provides structure with titles and headings.

You also have Page Background tools for adding a watermark, changing the background color, and applying page borders.

Layout tab

The Layout tab lets you change the structure of a document. You have the Page Setup group to adjust the margins, orientation, size, columns, and breaks; the Paragraph group for indent and spacing settings; and the Arrange group for wrapping text, aligning objects, and moving items forward or backward.

References tab

The References tab is where you go to add a table of contents, citations, a bibliography, captions, footnotes, and a table of figures. You can also use the Researcher tool and mark entries for things like an index and table of authorities.

Mailings tab

The Mailings tab provides tools for setting up a mail merge in Word. You can create letters, emails, labels, envelopes, and a directory. All tools on this tab are for mail merge.

Review tab

The Review tab contains tools for spelling and grammar checking, accessibility checking, translating, and language. You’ll also use this tab if you collaborate with others on the document and want to track the changes everyone makes.

View tab

The View tab allows you to switch from Print Layout to Web Layout to Outline or Draft view. You can also show or hide tools like the ruler and gridlines, zoom in and out, display multiple pages at once, and arrange Word windows if you have more than one open.

Temporary tabs

While you’ll always see the above tabs in Word by default, you may also see a few temporary tabs display. These tabs appear when you select (click) an item in your document and disappear when you deselect the item.

For example, if you insert a shape, you’ll see the Shape Format tab display, or if you insert an image, you’ll see the Picture Format tab display.

Each temporary tab provides you with ribbon tools specific to the item. Here, you can see we selected a shape that we inserted and the Shape Format tab displays on the right of the tab row. Tools on the ribbon allow us to format the shape and text inside it, as well arrange and resize the shape.

Now that you have the basics for using Microsoft Word, be sure to explore the tabs and tools to see how they can help you create fantastic documents. When you’re ready to move on, check out our other Word articles like things you didn’t know you could do in Word, along with tricks that can boost your Word workflow.

Information from a hacking group and a class action lawsuit document sourced by Bloomberg Law reported that a recent data breach of 2.9 billion personal records leaked sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers. But until now, National Public Data (NPD) had not officially confirmed the breach or the number of affected users.

In a new statement about the breach, NPD explained: “There appears to have been a data security incident that may have involved some of your personal information. The incident is believed to have involved a third-party bad actor that was trying to hack into data in late December 2023, with potential leaks of certain data in April 2024 and summer 2024.” Separately, in a notification about the breach on the Maine Attorney General’s website, it was revealed a total of 1.3 million people were affected.

If it turns out to be true that just 1.3 million people were affected by the breach, that’ll be relatively great news. The 2.9 billion number, after all, was at a scale that made it one of the worst data breaches in internet history.

So far, no official mention of any affected U.K. or Canadian victims has been made. However, NPD states that it is cooperating with law enforcement, reviewing the affected records, and will try to notify those affected if further significant developments apply to affected users.

The National Public Data strongly encourages you to take preventive measures to help prevent and detect fraudulent activity by closely monitoring your financial activity. NPD also recommends contacting the three U.S. credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) for free credit reports.

You can also place a fraud alert that tells creditors to contact you before anyone tries to change existing accounts or open new ones. For example, when you place a fraud alert with TransUnion, it must legally let Equifax and Experian know.

If you have never dealt with either credit agency, you’ll have an easier time placing a credit freeze or fraud alert with TransUnion than Equifax or Experian. We’ll have to wait and see if the number stays at 1.3 million.

Lara Croft is ready for her next adventure. Netflix released a teaser for Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, the upcoming animated series starring Hayley Atwell as the voice of the titular hero.

The series is a sequel to the Survivor Trilogy of video games: 2013’s Tomb Raider, 2015’s Rise of the Tomb Raider, and 2018’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider. These games served as a reboot of the Tomb Raider franchise.

Set after Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Lara Craft (Atwell) embarks on more solo missions after abandoning her friends. Per Netflix’s logline, “She must return home when a dangerous and powerful Chinese artifact is stolen from Croft Manor by a thief with an uncanny personal connection. Her daring pursuit will take her on an adventure around the world and to the depths of forgotten tombs, where she will be forced to confront her true self, and decide just what kind of hero she wants to become.”

Besides Atwell, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft features the voices of Allen Maldonado as Zip and Earl Baylon as Jonah. Baylon reprises his role from the Tomb Raider video games.

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is written and executive produced by Tasha Huo (Tasha Huo). Additional executive producers include Dmitri M. Johnson, Timothy I. Stevenson, Jacob Robinson, Dallas Dickinson, Noah Hughes, Howard Bliss, Jen Chambers, and Brad Graeber. The series hails from Legendary Television, dj2 Entertainment, Tractor Pants, Crystal Dynamics, and Powerhouse Animation.

The Tomb Raider video game franchise has sold over 95 million copies since the first game in 1996. The video game series spawned a few movies, starting with 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and 2003’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life, starring Angelina Jole as Croft. Alicia Vikander replaced Jolie in the Tomb Raider reboot in 2018. Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge is also developing a Tomb Raider project for Amazon Studios.

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft streams on Netflix on October 10, 2024.