The Nex Playground and Pixel Buds 2A top our list of the best deals this week
The Nex Playground is a compact, cube-shaped console that’s currently on sale for $50 off. | Image: The Verge The Nex Playground is apparently one of the hottest consoles this holiday season thanks to its kid-friendly games and fun, motion-controlled gameplay. And now through December 14th, the cube-shaped console is on sale for its Black Friday low of around $199 ($50 off) at Amazon. There are some other great deals still available you might have missed this week, too, including a sizable discount on the new Google Pixel Buds 2A and Genki’s Moonbase Charging Station, which looks straight out of Star Wars. Nex Playground Where to Buy: $250 $199 at Amazon The Nex Playground easily connects to your TV and provides a clever interactive solution that encourages you and your family to move around. A built-in camera and AI software track your movements with precision, so you are the controller. The cube-shaped console comes with five games...
The Nex Playground is a compact, cube-shaped console that’s currently on sale for $50 off. | Image: The Verge The Nex Playground is apparently one of the hottest consoles this holiday season thanks to its kid-friendly games and fun, motion-controlled gameplay. And now through December 14th, the cube-shaped console is on sale for its Black Friday low of around $199 ($50 off) at Amazon. There are some other great deals still available you might have missed this week, too, including a sizable discount on the new Google Pixel Buds 2A and Genki’s Moonbase Charging Station, which looks straight out of Star Wars.
Nex Playground
Where to Buy:
$250 $199 at Amazon
The Nex Playground easily connects to your TV and provides a clever interactive solution that encourages you and your family to move around. A built-in camera and AI software track your movements with precision, so you are the controller. The cube-shaped console comes with five games (Fruit Ninja, Starri, Party Fowl, Go Keeper, and Whack-a-Mole Deluxe), but there are a ton of others you can download; however, a three-month subscription ($49) or an annual Play Pass ($89) is required to enjoy the full catalog and seasonal drops.
Genki Moonbase Charging Station
Where to Buy:
$139.99 at Genki
$139.99 $89.99 at Amazon
Genki’s Moonbase features a sleek retro-futuristic design, and it’s currently down to an all-time low of $89.99 ($50 off) at Amazon. The power strip features three AC plugs (1,250W max power) and four USB-C ports that can deliver up to 240W of total power; a single USB-C port, meanwhile, can go up to 140W with the right cable, though one isn’t included with your purchase. The strip also features a non-removable, 1.5-meter braided cable, making it easy to reach the nearest outlet.Each AC plug is spaced far enough apart to accommodate larger power adapters, but the main selling point here is a touch-sensitive b***on that lets you cycle through colors and toggle the charging station’s lights on and off. All in all, the Moonbase is a powerful power strip that looks cool and lets you charge up to seven devices simultaneously.
Pixel Buds 2a
Where to Buy:
$129 $99 at Amazon
$129 $99 at Best Buy
$129 $99 at Target
Google recently launched a holiday sale that runs through December 24th, with many items matching the pricing we saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. One of the standout deals is the Pixel Buds 2A, which have returned to their all-time low of $99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store.The Pixel Buds 2A are Google’s latest, most affordable pair of wireless earbuds, but they don’t skimp on features. They offer active noise cancellation and a natural-sounding transparency mode, along with excellent sound for the price. They also provide hands-free Gemini support, allowing you to quickly get directions, brainstorm ideas, and summarize messages. The earbuds offer up to 10 hours of listening time with ANC disabled and carry an IP54 rating, too, which isn’t great but should provide at least some protection against rain and sweat.
A few more deals to check out
Apple’s M4-powered MacBook Air 13 is on sale at Amazon and Best Buy starting at $749 ($250 off), which is just a few dollars shy of its Black Friday low. However, if you purchase it at Best Buy, you’ll also get a free $25 gift card. The slim laptop offers an impressive combination of performance and battery life, with double the base RAM of its predecessor (16GB versus 8GB) and two Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports. It’s still relatively limited with 256GB of base storage, but it remains one of the best laptops available, especially with the current discount. Read our review.
Hoto’s new PixelDrive electric screwdriver is on sale for the first time at Amazon, where you can snag it for $59.99 ($20 off). The cordless PixelDrive is great for small- to medium-sized projects, whether you’re a**embling electronics or putting together furniture. It features up to 6Nm of torque, along with a single multi-function b***on that allows you to change the screwdriver’s direction, switch to an 80RPM precision mode for delicate tasks, or boost up to 200RPM with one finger. It also has a built-in pixelated display, so you can quickly check the battery life and see which of the six torque levels you’re using.
The Lego Super Mario Goombas’ Playground set is as adorable as it sounds, and it’s currently down to $8.99 ($6 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The set comes in at a relatively light 171 pieces, which you can use to build three Goomba figurines, a tree trunk, and a seesaw. Each Goomba has its own evil (but cute) expression, and they can stack on top of each other to make a small Goomba tower. There’s even a lever on the back of the tree trunk that can make a Goomba pop out, so you can play a round of peekaboo before placing the set on a desk or bookshelf.
You can grab a Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse for $42, but the battery life is the real win
The Logitech MK540 bundle is a great option if you're looking for an affordable keyboard-and-mouse setup. It's versatile and works well at home and in the office. The retail price is $60, but we think it's an even better buy on sale, as it is right now. Amazon is discounting...
The Logitech MK540 bundle is a great option if you're looking for an affordable keyboard-and-mouse setup. It's versatile and works well at home and in the office. The retail price is $60, but we think it's an even better buy on sale, as it is right now. Amazon is discounting the hardware by 30%, knocking it down to just $42. Even better, Amazon is also throwing in a $5 gift card.
Jane Smith Los Angeles
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Microsoft’s Xbox 360 emulator is arriving 13 years late, and Xenia already proved it doesn’t matter
It's finally happening — Microsoft is bringing official Xbox 360 emulation to PC, and considering how long I've been waiting for this, I should probably be more excited. Instead, I can't shake the feeling that Microsoft is arriving remarkably late to a party that the PC emulation scene has been...
It's finally happening — Microsoft is bringing official Xbox 360 emulation to PC, and considering how long I've been waiting for this, I should probably be more excited. Instead, I can't shake the feeling that Microsoft is arriving remarkably late to a party that the PC emulation scene has been throwing for over a decade.
Sophia Wilson Atlanta
Published by: aplhsindia.in
The same Linux setup follows me across three PCs, without cloning a single drive
For a long time, I assumed keeping several Linux PCs consistent meant keeping the installations themselves consistent. That usually meant cloning drives, restoring full-system images, or repeating the same setup routine, hoping I remembered everything I’d changed last time. Eventually, I realized that wasn’t the part I cared about. I...
For a long time, I assumed keeping several Linux PCs consistent meant keeping the installations themselves consistent. That usually meant cloning drives, restoring full-system images, or repeating the same setup routine, hoping I remembered everything I’d changed last time. Eventually, I realized that wasn’t the part I cared about. I don’t need three identical Linux installations; I need the parts I actually interact with every day to follow me from one machine to the next.
William Garcia Boston
Published by: aplhsindia.in
My favorite alternative to Chrome isn’t Microsoft Edge or Firefox, it’s something way more powerful and productive
Whenever I get tired of Chrome, the obvious alternatives are usually Microsoft Edge or Firefox. I have tried both, but neither really changed the way I use a browser. Dia did.
Whenever I get tired of Chrome, the obvious alternatives are usually Microsoft Edge or Firefox. I have tried both, but neither really changed the way I use a browser. Dia did.
William Garcia Boston
Published by: aplhsindia.in
I replaced Google Photos and OneDrive with my own server, and it made me realize I never needed the cloud
For years, OneDrive was where I stored most of my photos, while my wife typically relied on Google Photos for the same purpose. That was until I discovered the wonderful world of self-hosting, and with it, Immich.
For years, OneDrive was where I stored most of my photos, while my wife typically relied on Google Photos for the same purpose. That was until I discovered the wonderful world of self-hosting, and with it, Immich.
Daniel Martinez Dallas
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Integrated graphics are no longer a compromise — modern iGPUs match last-gen discrete cards and cost nothing extra
For a long time, it was assumed amongst PC enthusiasts that integrated graphics, sometimes referred to as iGPUs, were considered mere display outputs meant for web browsing, spreadsheets, and sometimes 720p low-spec media playback. That legacy reputation has changed significantly with modern silicon. With processors like AMD Ryzen's AI300 series...
For a long time, it was assumed amongst PC enthusiasts that integrated graphics, sometimes referred to as iGPUs, were considered mere display outputs meant for web browsing, spreadsheets, and sometimes 720p low-spec media playback. That legacy reputation has changed significantly with modern silicon. With processors like AMD Ryzen's AI300 series or Intel Core's UltraLuna Lake series, integrated graphics have taken an architectural leap.
Emily Brown Houston
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Google says Android Auto’s latest update should end those frustrating disconnects and freezes
Another day, and yet another Android Auto update has dropped that Google says fixes the disconnection and freezing issues some users have experienced over the past several months with the in-car infotainment system platform.
Another day, and yet another Android Auto update has dropped that Google says fixes the disconnection and freezing issues some users have experienced over the past several months with the in-car infotainment system platform.
Emily Brown Houston
Published by: aplhsindia.in
This 5TB Western Digital drive just dropped to $180, and it’s a steal if you’re looking to store data on the cheap
The Western Digital Elements 5TB portable drive is one of the best bang-for-your-buck storage devices on the market right now. It has an MSRP of $300, but B&H Photo now has it for $120 less, bringing the price down to $180. Just be quick; this is part of a timed...
The Western Digital Elements 5TB portable drive is one of the best bang-for-your-buck storage devices on the market right now. It has an MSRP of $300, but B&H Photo now has it for $120 less, bringing the price down to $180. Just be quick; this is part of a timed sales event.
Sophia Wilson Atlanta
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Riot is ending development on its League of Legends fighting game
Riot Games is already winding down work on 2XKO, the free-to-play League of Legends fighting game, less than a year after its initial launch. Riot says "active development" will conclude at the end of 2026 because the company hasn't "seen enough players stick with the game to get to a...
Riot Games is already winding down work on 2XKO, the free-to-play League of Legends fighting game, less than a year after its initial launch. Riot says "active development" will conclude at the end of 2026 because the company hasn't "seen enough players stick with the game to get to a path toward sustainability." Servers will stay online "beyond 2026," and Riot is unlocking all playable characters and refunding money spent on the game. 2XKO launched in an early access beta on PC in October 2025 and hit PS5 and Xbox Series X / S in January. But shortly after, Riot announced it would be cutting staff working on the game, saying at the time t …Read the full story at The Verge.
Emily Brown Houston
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Obsidian’s plugin library is drowning in vibe-coded abandonware
Obsidian's plugin library is the source of its magic, and I've written at length about the numerous options. Whether it's an aesthetic, homepage plugin like Hearth, a writing-focused tool like StoryLine, or even just a tool to automatically set up the plugins I need in a new vault, I spend...
Obsidian's plugin library is the source of its magic, and I've written at length about the numerous options. Whether it's an aesthetic, homepage plugin like Hearth, a writing-focused tool like StoryLine, or even just a tool to automatically set up the plugins I need in a new vault, I spend a lot of time tinkering with the various options that are out there. In that time, I've noticed one glaring issue that only gets worse with each passing day.
John Doe New York
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Google Discover is getting an AI chatbot-tuned feed
Google will soon allow you to customize your Discover feed by describing what you want to see. The new feature, rolling out to the Google app in the "coming days," will use AI to automatically tweak your feed and "remember" your preferences for future visits. You'll find the option within...
Google will soon allow you to customize your Discover feed by describing what you want to see. The new feature, rolling out to the Google app in the "coming days," will use AI to automatically tweak your feed and "remember" your preferences for future visits.You'll find the option within the three-dot menu on your Discover feed. As shown in a video shared by Google, tapping the feature will open a chatbot-style interface, where you'll be able to describe your preferences. The chatbot will confirm your choices and lay out the types of content it will prioritize, but you'll also have the option to add more information if it doesn't get it qu …Read the full story at The Verge.
Daniel Martinez Dallas
Published by: aplhsindia.in
I let Claude Code optimize my Plex library and reclaimed 8TB of storage
Once you have set up your Plex library properly, adding content works like clockwork. You can automate when shows and movies are added to your library, but while adding content is easy, it also eats up your storage really quickly. I have already dealt with this once using Unmanic, an...
Once you have set up your Plex library properly, adding content works like clockwork. You can automate when shows and movies are added to your library, but while adding content is easy, it also eats up your storage really quickly. I have already dealt with this once using Unmanic, an open-source tool that can automatically optimize media files and helped me reclaim TBs of storage.
