Sacramento Kings to build NBA 2K League training center inside arena

Now that the National Basketball Association has its own eSports initiative with NBA 2K League, it’s only a matter of time before various teams jump into the digital arena. Qualifiers start January 1st, with draft rounds planned for March of 2018 for a season that’s set to begin in May. Further blurring the lines between real and digital sports, the Sacramento Kings have just announced a new eSports training facility to be housed within the Golden 1 Center pro arena.

The idea is to have a “venue within a venue,” with a training facility, broadcast center and gamer lounge in the same place where the Kings play pro basketball. The eSports venue will have super fast connections for lag-free gaming, along with theater-style seating for tournaments and events. The professional gamers that end up on the Kings’ eSports team will be able to access the same amenities as the NBA athletes, like the farm-to-fork culinary program and an on-demand oxygen bar.

The eSports studio will also be equipped with 4K cameras and green screens to allow the gaming team to create its own content on-site, and will be linked to Golden 1 Center’s 4K Ultra HD broadcast center. The studio will also turn into a massive backstage area for touring musical acts, with a ton of video games to play and a DJ rig for musicians to mess around with. Local schools and non-profits will be able to use the complex as well, via the Sacramento Kings Foundation.

Walmart sells meal kits to challenge Amazon and Blue Apron

Walmart’s never-ending quest to beat Amazon has it venturing into unfamiliar territory: meal kits. The big-box retailer has started selling just shy of 30 meal kits (such as a Thai crab curry) from multiple brands. How much you’ll pay varies, but it’s not uncommon to pay $35 for a meal for four. There are also bundles, such as a $60 Everyday Supper pack that serves three meals for two people. The brands themselves fulfill the orders. This isn’t a subscription service like Blue Apron, but it’s helpful if you’d like a fanciful meal without hunting down ingredients. And importantly, Walmart will soon compete more directly with Amazon’s meal kits through an app tie-in.

The store chain just partnered with BuzzFeed’s Tasty team to integrate purchases into the mobile app’s recipes (shown above). At present, it’s limited to buying the cookware you need to complete a recipe (such as measuring cups or a slow cooker), but an update in 2018 will include the groceries themselves and services like grocery pickup. If you’re a kitchen rookie, you might have a one-stop shop for everything you need.

That’s potentially an advantage over Amazon’s Allrecipes pact, which can assemble the ingredients for a given meal but doesn’t offer the equipment. Not that Walmart can remain cozy — it wouldn’t be at all shocking if Amazon eventually gives you the opportunity to buy absolutely everything.

Via: TheStreet, The Verge

Source: Walmart (1), (2)

These new Honda concept mobility robots are adorable

At CES 2018, Honda is set to unveil its 3E Robotics Concept robots. These are aimed at making people’s lives easier through the use of robots, with a focus on helping those with mobility issues navigate their homes and the outside world. There are four robots in total: 3E-A18 is a companion robot designed to show compassion, while 3E-B18 is a mobility chair designed for indoor and outdoor use. The 3E-C18 appears to be a mobility concept vehicle with cargo space, while 3E-D18 is an autonomous off-road vehicle.

Additionally, Honda will feature its Mobile Power Pack World at CES, which is focused on EVs. It includes a portable and swappable battery pack for electric vehicles, as well as charging solutions for at home, out and about and during a natural disaster.

It’s incredible to think how these robots will help people, but it’s also nice to see the thought that went into their design. Too often, aesthetics are a second thought, but they are actually crucial to whether people want to interact with a device or not. Each of these robots is adorable, and they are something people who need assistance will likely want in their homes.

Source: Honda

Anheuser-Busch wants to deliver beer with Tesla’s electric semi-trucks

Anheuser-Busch just joined the list of companies that have placed an order for Tesla’s upcoming semi-trucks. In an announcement today, the beer-maker said it has ordered 40 of the trucks that are set to go into production in 2019. “Integrating the Tesla semi-trucks into the brewer’s distribution network will help Anheuser-Busch achieve its commitment to reduce its operational carbon footprint by 30 percent by 2025 – the equivalent of removing nearly 500,000 cars from the road globally each year,” said the company.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Anheuser-Busch plans to use the Tesla trucks for shipments to wholesalers lying within 150 to 200 miles of its 21 breweries and they’ll become part of the approximately 750-strong truck fleet it currently uses to ship its product. As of now, the company hasn’t decided whether it will buy the trucks, lease them or have one of its dedicated carriers do so.

Nearly a dozen companies have now placed orders for around 140 of the trucks and Tesla’s customers include Walmart, DHL and Canadian grocery store chain Loblaws.

James Sembrot, Anheuser-Busch’s senior director of logistics strategy, told the WSJ that the company spends around $120 million each year on fuel. So a move towards electric vehicles stands to have a major impact on its fuel costs, not to mention how the environment will benefit. The company is also interested in Nikola Motor Co.’s hydrogen-electric semi-trucks, which will reportedly be able to travel between 800 and 1,200 miles on one fill-up versus Tesla’s 500 mile range. “We have needs for all those types of distances,” said Sembrot.

Via: The Verge

Source: Anheuser-Busch

John Scalzi’s ‘Old Man’s War’ sci-fi series is headed to Netflix

Award-winning author John Scalzi famously chose military sci-fi for his Old Man’s War series because it was a marketable sub-genre. Lucky for us that he did, as the eventual six-book series has been a critical and commercial success. According to a report from Deadline, Netflix has just acquired the first novel with intentions to make it into a film.

In the Old Man’s War universe, set hundreds of years from now, older people are given a loaded choice. Either age and die on Earth or get healthy young bodies that are conscripted into the military to fight space aliens. Protagonist John Perry makes the obvious choice and becomes a high-octane space marine who ends up being pretty good at leading troops into battle. Of course, all is not as it seems, and Perry begins to piece together what’s really going on. The engaging story will likely make a good movie, provided it’s done right (looking at you, Ender’s Game). The film is being produced by John Shestak Productions (Air Force One, Dan in Real Life) and Madhouse Entertainment.

Source: Deadline

Next ‘GTA Online’ heist resets the doomsday clock

We never got the additional story mode heists for Grand Theft Auto V, but Rockstar Games seems to be making up for that with the next add-on for perennial moneymaker GTA Online. From the looks of it, “The Doomsday Heist” is going to be pretty involved. Based on the trailer below, you’ll steal a surface-to-air missile truck, explore Mount Chilliad, interact with a snarky AI named Clifford, don a jetpack, take to the sky in a flying car and then use the same car to intercept a submarine. Yeah, there’s a lot going on.

Online heists were first available back in 2015, and Rockstar seemingly abandoned the game type after releasing the first four. The new mission will be available for free across PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One starting December 12th.

Source: Rockstar Games

Wirecutter’s best deals: Save $65 on an iPad mini 4

This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read their continuously updated list of deals here.

iPad mini 4 128GB

Street price: $340; deal price: $275

At $275, this price matches the low we saw for the iPad mini 4 128GB during Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales. It’s an excellent deal and as low as we’ve seen for this small tablet. Gold, Silver, and Space Gray are all available at the sale price.

The iPad Mini 4 is our pick if you absolutely need something smaller in our iPad guide. Dan Frakes and Nick Guy wrote, “The main advantage of the iPad mini is that it has a better screen than the standard iPad: As with the screen on the iPad Pro models, the mini’s screen has no air gap between the display panel and front glass, which means you get better clarity and less intra-display reflection. The mini’s screen also has a higher pixel density. The result is that the iPad mini 4’s screen, which also has an antireflective coating, is easier to use in bright light or sunlight and displays slightly sharper images than the screen on the standard iPad. The other advantage is the mini’s smaller size and lighter weight, which make it a bit easier to hold, especially in one hand.”

Oral-B Pro 1000 Electric Toothbrush

Street price: $40; deal price: $20 w/ clipped on-page coupon

Back again after the price jumped back up for a short time, this deal matches the lowest price we’ve seen on our top electric toothbrush. We briefly saw it at this price during Black Friday, but that deal didn’t stick around for long, and like the last, this one isn’t likely stay long either. Make sure to clip the $10 off coupon in order to get the deal price of $20. Only the white color is available for the deal price.

The Oral-B Pro 1000 is our top pick in our guide to the best electric toothbrush. Casey Johnston, Tracy Vence, and Shannon Palus wrote, “The Pro 1000 is among Oral-B’s least expensive models, but it comes with all the features most of our experts recommended, for the lowest price—a two-minute timer (with a nice-to-have quadrant alert) and a wide selection of compatible and affordable brush heads. And recently the Pro 1000 was among the first five electric toothbrushes to receive the ADA Seal of Acceptance. The Pro 1000 has comfortable-feeling oscillating bristles, a simple one-button interface, and a battery that lasted 11½ days with twice-daily use in our tests. The body survived drop tests on the floor and into water. Best of all, you’re not getting overcharged for features like digital monitors, travel cases, or inductive chargers—none of which will actually get your teeth any cleaner than the Pro 1000 can.”

Steelcase Gesture Office Chair

Street price: $1000; deal price: $900

This is a great deal and the lowest we’ve seen on our top pick office chair. If you’re looking to add it to your desk at work, the light white color is probably your best bet. If you’re outfitting your home office or don’t mind a bit of added flair, the tangerine orange, wasabi green, and concord purple are also available for $900, with the blue jay blue color coming in just under the others at $877. Stock is low, but Amazon indicates more are on the way.

The Steelcase Gesture is our top pick in our guide to the best office chairs. Kyle VanHermert and Michael Zhao wrote, “We like the Steelcase Gesture for most people because it is highly adjustable if you need that but still solid if you don’t. It’s designed to accommodate a modern workflow, where people aren’t expected to sit still in front of a keyboard and monitor all day. Lean back to check your phone, and the chair leans with you—keeping your body supported all the while. If you need to make room for a tablet on your lap, the armrests rotate outward to accommodate that, and downward to support your lowered elbows. While everybody knows not to cross one’s legs or slouch while sitting, the Gesture won’t punish you for doing so; flexible and padded edges keep the cushioning comfortable regardless of your body positioning. And if you do want to sit up straight all day, the Gesture is just as comfortable as the best task chairs currently available.”

Acer Chromebook 11 C771T

Street price: $340; deal price: $315

If you’re looking for a small Chromebook for yourself or a young one but still want a quality option, the Acer Chromebook 11 C771T is a nice pickup. At $314, it’s only $25 less than usual, but this is an item that rarely ever sees discounts, even during previous holiday sales. We may see it go lower, but this is the first notable drop on it.

The Acer Chromebook 11 C771T is our budget pick in our guide to the best Chromebook. Kimber Streams wrote, “The best cheap Chromebook right now is the Acer Chromebook 11 C771T because it’s powerful enough for everyday work and most Android apps, plus it has a decent (though small) touchscreen, all-day battery life, and solid build quality. It’s ruggedized and has a spill-proof keyboard, and has a wider selection of older ports, so it’s a good choice for students (for whom it’s designed). The C771T’s keyboard and trackpad aren’t exceptional, but they work. And though we wish the C771T had a 360-degree hinge for using Android apps in tablet mode, it’s not a crucial feature.”

Because great deals don’t just happen on Thursday, sign up for our daily deals email and we’ll send you the best deals we find every weekday. Also, deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to thewirecutter.com.

Best Buy Apple Event: Up to $150 Off iPad Pro, $200 Off MacBook and iMac, and BOGO 20% Off iTunes Cards

Best Buy this week launched a new Apple sale event, running concurrently with the retailer’s existing 20 Days of Doorbusters event this December. The new sale includes promotions and deals on iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Beats by Dre devices, Apple Pencil, and more. We’ve listed some of the best deals and promotions below, so be sure to check out anything you’re interested in before the discounts end on Saturday, December 9 at 11:59 p.m. CT.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

• iPhone X – Trade in select iPhones towards the purchase of an iPhone X and get a Best Buy gift card worth up to $250

• iPhone 8 and 8 Plus – Save up to $200 when buying and activating with a monthly installment plan

• iPhone 6s – Save $150 when buying and activating with a monthly installment plan

• 10.5-inch iPad Pro – Save $100 on 64GB, $125 on 256GB, and $150 on 512GB Wi-Fi models

• iPad mini 4 – Save $125 on the 128GB model

• MacBook – Save up to $200 on the latest models of the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air

• iMac – Save up to $200 on the latest 27-inch and 21.5-inch models

• iTunes Gift Cards – Buy one, get one 20 percent off

In other deals, Amazon’s $50 iTunes gift card for $42.50 from this morning is still ongoing, but as of writing it has reached a 49 percent claim rate so it will be ending shortly. Also of note is Day 7 of Best Buy’s 20 Days of Doorbusters event, with today’s discount focusing on the WD easystore 8TB External USB 3.0 Hard Drive for $139.99, down from $299.99.

Head over to our Deals Roundup for more of the latest discounts, including savings of up to $850 on Vizio’s SmartCast TV set and sound bar bundles.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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SiriusXM Launches New App for Apple TV

SiriusXM today announced the launch of a new SiriusXM Radio app for the Apple TV, designed to allow SiriusXM subscribers to listen to more than 200 commercial-free radio channels.

The new app is available on the fourth-generation Apple TV and the Apple TV 4K with an interface that has been optimized for the two set-top boxes.

SiriusXM Radio for Apple TV offers customizable music and comedy channels, access to a library of archived SiriusXM On Demand content, easy access to preferred channels and shows, and a syncing feature for resuming shows from SiriusXM On Demand across devices. There’s also an integrated screen saver for viewing currently playing content.

“Apple TV is one of the leading and most innovative devices in the burgeoning world of in-home audio and video entertainment. We are excited to bring our extensive programming lineup into homes nationwide with Apple TV,” said Jim Cady, SiriusXM’s Executive Vice President of Products, Operations & Connected Vehicle.

The SiriusXM service offers access to a wide range of music genres, exclusive channels from Howard Stern, live games and events from professional and college sports, news broadcasts, comedy shows, and more.

Pricing for access to SiriusXM starts at $10.99 per month for a music package and goes up to $20.99 per month for an all access package that includes access to sports channels.

Tag: SiriusXM
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Apple to Switch From Dollars to Brazilian Reais for App Store Purchases in Brazil in 2018

Starting in early 2018, Apple users in Brazil will pay for purchases from the App Store, iTunes Store, and iBooks Store using the Brazilian real instead of the dollar. The Brazilian real will also be used for Apple Music subscriptions and iCloud storage charges.

Apple began notifying users about the change in emails that were sent out today. Once the currency change happens, all new purchases and subscriptions will be charged in reais rather than dollars.

Since the iTunes Store became available in Brazil in 2011, customers have been required to pay in dollars using an international credit or debit card payment.

At one point, the Brazilian government looked into Apple’s payment scheme, leading to speculation at the time that Apple was using dollars instead of reais to avoid software taxes that would negatively impact developers.

(Thanks, João!)

Tags: App Store, Brazil
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