New story in Technology from Time: Review: Sony’s PlayStation Classic Is Too Frustrating to Love

Nostalgia is a powerful marketing tool, often used by companies to provoke consumer desire and extract more money from the pockets. A prime example: The rise of “classic” shrunken-down versions of decades-old video game consoles, loaded with favorite games from yesteryear. While Nintendo popularized the trend, Sony’s now getting in on the action with its $99 PlayStation Classic, a miniature replica of the iconic PlayStation with two controllers and 20 games.

But despite the appealing design and potential to relive some of your favorite moments in video game history, Sony’s PlayStation Classic is a frustrating device. Barebones in terms of extras and marred by flaws, it may leave both hardcore PlayStation fans and casual gamers feeling as if it’s little more than an attempt to capitalize on the nostalgia of older Millennial gamers who now have disposable income of their own to spend.

The PlayStation Classic looks identical to the original 1994 console, down to the pair of included joystick-free controllers. But it’s 45% smaller than the original and only plays the included games, so don’t expect it to read any PlayStation discs you might have lying about. You won’t need a memory card, either, as everything just saves to the system itself. Like other “classic” consoles released by Nintendo and Sega, the PlayStation Classic is just a tiny computer running a PlayStation software emulator, with some ports for controllers and an HDMI cable. It looks cool, and reminds me of the console I never owned but desperately desired.

But, of course, it’s all about the games. The Classic has a selection of 20 well-known titles, though whether you’ll enjoy the selection depends on your tastes. Iconic games like RPG Final Fantasy VII, fighting simulator Tekken 3, and stealth-centric Metal Gear Solid are present, so you’ll no doubt find something you remember enjoying, or might enjoy for the first time around now. But more influential titles, like adventure game Spyro the Dragon or rhythm game PaRappa The Rapper are nowhere to be found, while other included games like Syphon Filter and Battle Arena Toshinden simply take up space due to their similarity to the more popular entries already present.

Whatever the reason, Sony’s choice of “classic” games to include on the system is unexciting. Even more confusing is the use of nine titles formatted for European televisions rather than North American televisions, leading to a handful of games that run slightly slower than the other offerings on the device.

While you can save games traditionally using the “virtual” memory card, hitting the reset button on the console itself will automatically create a save “snapshot” of the game you were playing, letting you jump right back in whenever you’d like. That’s cool, but it only creates one snapshot at a time, so you can’t create multiple snapshots before inflection points like boss battles. By comparison, Nintendo’s SNES Classic allows for up to four save slots per title.

Unfortunately, both the PlayStation Classic’s software and hardware stand in the way of truly enjoying the throwback experience. For one, you won’t be able to use it out of the box. Sony is seemingly paying homage to the old “batteries not included” stinger that plagued toy advertisements in the 90’s by omitting a power source. Instead there is only a Micro-USB cable for connecting the Classic to a powered USB-A port, though you’ll have to provide that part of the equation yourself. The charging adapter that came with your smartphone will work just fine, thankfully.

The PlayStation Classic’s home screen is pretty barren, and the software emulating the games lacks many of the gameplay-enhancing features found in other versions of the Classic’s emulator available online. No rewind functionality, no anti-aliasing for smoother graphics, no use of improved textures, and only a single slot for instant game save snapshots.

In addition, the two controllers are flawed in several ways. The attached cables are too short in length for comfortable play on your couch, so you may end up sitting on the floor (Nintendo’s NES Classic had the same problem, which that company fixed with the SNES Classic). Also missing is the pair of joysticks present on the first DualShock controllers that shipped with later versions of the PlayStation. That makes navigating, aiming weapons, and driving cars a frustrating task, sloppily accomplished with the controller’s directional or shoulder buttons.

Compared to Nintendo’s $59 NES Classic and $79 SNES Classic consoles, Sony’s $99 PlayStation Classic isn’t offering much for the price, either. The NES Classic included 30 of its most well-known games, offered multiple save slots per title, and its own power adapter. The SNES offers mostly the same, and while it only includes 21 titles, one of them is the previously unreleased Starfox 2. Sure, all three peddle nostalgia for profit, but Nintendo does it better, and offers more for less.

The PlayStation Classic is a story of missed potential. Proper DualShock controllers (included with later versions of the original console) would have made many of the games easier to play and more enjoyable overall. While licensing issues are usually to blame when it comes to reviving old games, access to an online store with a handful of extra titles would at least give those unsatisfied with the included selection an opportunity to choose from even more games, possibly with more titles added later on. And an included power supply would save everyone the headache that is figuring out how to even turn it on. Instead, Sony presented fans with a neutered version of one of the most influential consoles ever made, removed its best features, and neglected its most enjoyable titles. You really want to feel some nostalgia? I suggest you visit eBay and get an original PlayStation. Now that’s cool.

New story in Technology from Time: Stayed at a Marriott Recently? Here’s What To Do About That Massive Data Breach

Up to 500 million guests of the hotel chain Marriott may have had their data stolen in a security breach, the company announced on Friday.

For some 327 million of those guests, the stolen information includes “some combination of name, mailing address, phone number, email address, passport number, Starwood Preferred Guest (“SPG”) account information, date of birth, gender, arrival and departure information, reservation date, and communication preferences,” according to the chain.

The data breach, which involved a reservation database at Marriott’s Starwood unit, is unprecedented in size and scale.

Here’s what to do if you are worried your information has been compromised.

I’m a Marriott customer. How will I know if I’m affected?

Marriott began sending out messages on a rolling basis to affected customers on Friday to the email addresses associated with compromised accounts. Check those email addresses regularly — and be aware that you may not receive notification immediately, as it takes time to send 500 million emails.

Okay, so my account is involved. What should I do now?

Marriott says affected customers should monitor their accounts and bank statements for suspicious activity. More information can be found on its advice page for people affected by the breach.

It also warned of the risk that hackers could use information exposed by the data breach news to mount “phishing” attacks, in which people pretending to be someone they’re not trick you into giving them other valuable information, like credit card numbers.

Marriott said breach notification emails would only come from the address “starwoodhotels@email-marriott.com,” and that those emails would not contain attachments or requests for personal information, including passwords.

It would also be wise for you to change any passwords for other services that you know to be the same as the one you used for Marriott accounts.

Anything else?

Yes. As part of its response to the data breach, Marriott has set up a way for all guests to sign up to WebWatcher for free for one year. That site alerts you if your personal information is being shared on dodgy websites. U.S. users will also be eligible for compensation through the site if money is lost.

However, it’s not clear whether that compensation will be applicable to misuses of data that might occur after a year is up, or whether non-U.S. citizens will be able to obtain compensation.

Are there any bigger steps I can take?

That depends on your rights.

In the U.S., data protection law varies state by state. But if you believe you have suffered because of the breach, you should contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Attorney General of your state. You should also file a police report if you believe crimes have been committed.

On the FTC website, you can file a complaint against a company and report identity theft.

These measures may be a useful first step in proving your case if a class action lawsuit is set up in the future. A police report will also be helpful evidence to provide to correct your credit score if it suffers because of the breach.

What if I live in the European Union?

If you are an E.U. citizen, you benefit from the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into force earlier this year. If your data has been stolen and you suffer financial loss or distress because of it, you may have the right to compensation.

The first step towards claiming that compensation is to contact the company outlining your case, including losses suffered, and requesting compensation.

You should also contact your country’s data regulator, which Marriott has helpfully listed on its website. Scroll to the bottom, click the “More information on steps you can take” tab, then click “Additional information for EU data subjects.”

That regulator will be able to advise you whether your claim has merit, and whether they believe your information has been compromised. That advice could be helpful later in court, or as part of a future class action lawsuit.

How about elsewhere?

If you live outside the U.S. or E.U., you should do some research into what rights your jurisdiction gives you over your personal data, and see if your country has a data protection authority you can contact.

Marriott also said it would set up a call center to answer questions in multiple languages. Information on that can be found on its help site.

New story in Technology from Time: Here’s Why Google Employees Are Protesting the Company’s Planned Expansion in China

Opposition to Google’s planned expansion into China is mounting, with human rights groups and even the company’s own employees demanding a censored search engine codenamed “Dragonfly” be withdrawn.

An open letter from Google employees published Tuesday called on the company to cancel Dragonfly amid concerns that it could be utilized by the Chinese state to bolster surveillance efforts and violate the rights of Chinese citizens.

“Many of us accepted employment at Google with the company’s values in mind,” said the letter, which was co-signed by over 300 Google employees.

The Google dissenters were joined by human rights groups including Amnesty International, which warned that releasing Dragonfly as planned “would set a dangerous precedent for tech companies enabling rights abuses by governments.”

“This is a watershed moment for Google,” Amnesty said.

As the backlash against Google builds, here’s what to know:

What is Dragonfly?

News leaked earlier this year that a secretive new Google search engine would reportedly comply with the Chinese authorities’ censorship demands.

Investigative website The Intercept revealed that a restricted circle of staffers were working on Dragonfly. The explosive report said the project would “blacklist sensitive queries” from Google’s search in China, including taboo subjects like human rights and democracy, Tibetan independence and the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.

The exposé caught many in the tech world by surprise. The California-based internet giant had previously operated in China under censorship from 2005-2010, but shifted its operations to Hong Kong following reports of coordinated cyberattacks. It was effectively banned after lifting search result filters, a move that was hailed at the time by rights activists.

But Google has endeavored to return to the vast and lucrative Chinese market since. Google officials have not only confirmed Dragonfly’s existence, but plan to move ahead: a leaked meeting transcript from July projected Dragonfly’s launch in “six to nine months.”

Why are some Google employees against it?

After reports about Dragonfly became public, backlash within the company was swift. Over 1,400 Google employees signed an internal petition in August urging for more transparency and warning the confidential project could violate the company’s long-standing credo “Don’t be evil.”.

Tuesday’s open letter deemed “unsatisfactory” the company executives’ response to condemnation from rights organizations and activists.

“We object to technologies that aid the powerful in oppressing the vulnerable,” the letter’s writers said, warning that Dragonfly could “make it harder for Google to deny other countries similar concessions” in the future.

The staffers also expressed concern that Google’s search data could further empower China’s expansive surveillance network to target vulnerable communities, including minority Uighur Muslims, women’s rights activists and students.

“Providing the Chinese government with ready access to user data, as required by Chinese law, would make Google complicit in oppression and human rights abuses,” they wrote.

What have rights groups said?

In addition to Google employees, human rights groups have widely criticized Google for pursuing Dragonfly in spite of concerns about Chinese censorship and surveillance.

Google “should be fighting for an internet where information is freely accessible to everyone, not backing the Chinese government’s dystopian alternative,” Amnesty International technology researcher Joe Westby said in a statement Tuesday. Amnesty launched a “day of action” and published a petition calling on Google CEO Sundar Pichai to abandon the project.

“Today we are standing with Google staff and asking them to join us in calling on Sundar Pichai to drop Project Dragonfly and reaffirm Google’s commitment to human rights,” Westby said.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

New story in Technology from Time: Mark Zuckerberg Slammed After Failing to Show for Grilling by Global Lawmakers

Mark Zuckerberg was represented by an empty chair at an “international grand committee” on fake news and disinformation in London on Tuesday, after repeatedly refusing invitations to give evidence to lawmakers present representing nine countries.

Those lawmakers roundly criticized the Facebook boss, who said he would be unable to attend the hearing either in person or via video link. Representatives from the U.K., Canada, France, Argentina, Singapore, Ireland, Belgium, Brazil and Latvia were all in attendance. The committee has no power to summon or sanction people, and cannot penalize businesses.

“I would say at the outset how deeply disappointed we are about Mark Zuckerberg’s decision to ignore this summons from so many different nations,” said Canadian lawmaker Charlie Angus. “This is an unprecedented situation we’re dealing with.”

Facebook’s share price has dropped by about 40% since March in light of multiple damaging revelations, including those related to Russian interference during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, a data breach involving up to 87 million users, and a political advocacy firm linked to the Trump campaign.

The international committee was brought together by lawmakers from the U.K. as an extension of a domestic inquiry into fake news and disinformation. After Zuckerberg repeatedly refused to attend questioning by that panel, the inquiry joined together with lawmakers from other countries to add weight to their calls for him to appear. Zuckerberg has been questioned by American lawmakers, but he has so far not appeared before those of other nations.

Tracing similar lines to special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation in the U.S., lawmakers on the U.K. inquiry are trying to determine the extent of foreign interference in democratic processes, and the extent to which social media companies may have been complicit in any such interference.

At the hearing, a representative from the U.K. alleged that Facebook higher-ups were aware of Russian attempts to manipulate its platform in October 2014, well before the date previously publicly acknowledged that information first being brought to their attention. An engineer allegedly notified the company about Russian IP addresses accessing “three billion data points a day” from the platform, according to Damian Collins, who chairs the U.K. fake news inquiry. That information apparently comes from internal Facebook emails recently seized by Collins’ committee.

Collins said he hoped to publish the documents in the coming week. If they indeed show that Facebook was aware of Russian interference earlier than previously established, it could be highly damaging for the company.

“The engineers who had flagged these initial concerns subsequently looked into this further and found no evidence of specific Russian activity,” a Facebook spokesperson told TIME, while also alleging that the documents had been selectively leaked by a party trying to sue the company.

Sitting next to the empty space with Zuckerberg’s name on it at the hearing was Richard Allan, Facebook’s vice president of policy solutions, sent to answer questions in the CEO’s stead.

“I’m not going to disagree with you that we’ve damaged public trust through some of the actions we’ve taken,” Allan told the panel.

On multiple occasions during the two-and-a-half hour hearing, Allan was unable to provide answers to questions posed by lawmakers. At one point, he concluded an answer with the words “not that I’m aware of.”

That prompted a rebuke from the U.K. lawmaker Clive Efford. “These are decisions that are made at a level that it appears you don’t operate at within Facebook,” he said. “Which is why we actually need to speak to Mr. Zuckerberg.”

After the hearing, the representatives from nine parliaments signed a declaration calling for global rules to govern the internet.

“The internet is global and law relating to it must derive from globally agreed principles,” says the declaration, which calls for social media companies to be held partially accountable for “harmful and misleading content” if they fail to remove it from their platforms.

Today members of Parliament from Canada, France, Latvia, Belgium, Singapore, Brazil, Argentina, Ireland and the United Kingdom signed a declaration on the ‘Principles of the Law Governing the Law Governing the Internet’ pic.twitter.com/jQ4q9u9KAV

— Damian Collins (@DamianCollins) November 27, 2018

The hearing was the first time since 1933 that lawmakers from multiple countries jointly attended a hearing at the U.K. parliament. “The fact this meeting is taking place,” said Collins, “shows just how seriously we take these issues.”

New story in Technology from Time: ‘People Could Stand That Very Easily.’ Trump Threatens 10% Tariffs on iPhones

Apple Inc., which has lost a fifth of its value in a tech market rout since October, is poised for another setback after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that 10 percent tariffs could be placed on mobile phones, like the iPhone, and laptops made in China.

The company already is facing reports of suppliers cutting forecasts, signaling the new iPhone models introduced in September aren’t selling as well as anticipated. Trump’s comments to the Wall Street Journal that he may include Apple’s signature product in another round of tariffs on Chinese imports are another blow for Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook.

“Maybe. Maybe. Depends on what the rate is,” the president said, referring to mobile phones and laptops. “I mean, I can make it 10 percent, and people could stand that very easily.” Apple stock fell about 1.6 percent in extended trading Monday following the comments.

The U.S. is due to raise import duties on about $200 billion worth of goods from China to 25 percent from 10 percent on Jan. 1. The vast majority of iPhones and other Apple products are built in China and then exported globally. Apple couldn’t be reached for comment.

Some analysts said the comments may shake investors. With consumers “clearly price sensitive” and the average sales price of an iPhone reaching almost $800, “the last thing Cook and investors want to see is additional tariffs added to iPhones and impacting demand drivers at this crucial growth juncture for the company,” Daniel Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, wrote Monday in a note.

The price of an iPhone ranges from $449 to $1,449 in the U.S., including older models such as the iPhone 7 that Apple still sells.

Shares of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., the biggest iPhone assembler, slipped about 1 percent in Taiwan trading Tuesday and have dropped about 40 percent this year. Inventec Corp., which supplies Apple and other U.S. tech companies, fell 4.3 percent to the lowest level in more than a year.

So far, Apple’s most lucrative devices, like the iPhone and iPad, have been left out of U.S. tariffs. Earlier this year, Apple said products like the Apple Watch and AirPods would be affected before the U.S. said it wouldn’t impose taxes on such items. Still, the company warned in September, that other items, like the Mac mini, Apple Pencil stylus, and some cables and cases, could be harmed.

The company has made a small percentage of older iPhone models in Brazil and India in recent years, in part to avoid local taxes on imported goods. Trump on several occasions has suggested that Apple should bring iPhone manufacturing to the U.S.

In his early years running Apple, Cook would respond to questions about increasing manufacturing in the U.S. by saying the skill sets in China are more conducive to producing the company’s products. However, in recent months, he has modified that view, saying in an interview this year that “it’s not true that the iPhone is not made in the United States.” Some components, like the smartphone’s glass cover, are manufactured in the U.S. and shipped for assembly in China.

In Trump’s almost two years in office, Cook has met with him multiple times at large meetings with other technology executives and privately at the White House.

New story in Technology from Time: These Are the Best Cyber Monday Deals in Tech

With Thanksgiving over, Black Friday come and gone, and you filling up on the last of your leftovers, the last thing you want to do is walk through a store on Monday and do some early holiday shopping, even with all the deep discounts on offer.

If you forgot to nab a deal or two on Friday, there’s always Cyber Monday, when online retailers slash prices on items so you can purchase them from the comfort of your smartphone. Be sure to check your favorite retailers for site-specific deals, too. Retailers like Target are offering a blanket percentage off a variety of products, while Amazon is offering a rotating stable of deals all week.

Here are some of the most eye-catching gadget deals you can snag before the day’s done.

Cyber Monday Smartphone Deals

Google Pixel 3

Looking to get Google’s latest smartphone? If you buy a Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL from the company, you’ll also receive a Google Home Hub for free, along with a $50 Google Store credit.

Samsung Galaxy S9+

Walmart is selling the $839 unlocked Samsung Galaxy S9+ for $639, making it easy to switch carriers whether you’re home or traveling using the high-end smartphone.

Cyber Monday Video Games Deals

Nintendo Switch eShop Bundle

You can get yourself a Nintendo Switch along with a $35 Nintendo eShop gift card today for $299, perfect for snagging some quality titles already on sale and ready for instant downloading.

Cyber Monday Laptops & Tablets Deals

Apple iPad

Apple’s latest $329 iPad is down to $249 on Best Buy’s site, saving you a cool $80 on what is a pretty quality tablet that supports the art-friendly Apple Pencil.

HP Chromebook X360

Best Buy is taking $200 off the HP Chromebook X360, meaning you can get a device with a 1080p display, plenty of RAM, and enough battery life to get you through a long flight for $449.

Dell XPS 13 Laptop

If you need more power than a Chromebook provides, you could get a Windows 10 laptop. Originally $999, Dell’s XPS 13 is now $300 off, and features eighth-generation Intel Core processors, a Thunderbolt 3 port for connecting and powering other devices, and a 128GB SSD hard drive for storing your files.

Cyber Monday TV & Home Theater Deals

Samsung 75” NU8000 4K UHD TV

Want a discount on a huge TV? Save $702 on Samsung’s 4K NU8000 UHD TV with HDR. At $1,597, you’ll be getting a good deal on a huge smart TV perfect for replacing your aging model.

LG 4.1 Channel Soundbar System

Originally $400, the $189 LG soundbar system features a 4.1 channel sound system and a wireless subwoofer perfect for that new TV you just got.

TCL 43” 4 Series 4K UHD TV

Getting extras in a cheap television is a rarity, but TCL’s 43-inch 4K TV with HDR for $249 is a pretty good deal. It also includes built-in Roku TV service, so you don’t even need some extra dongle to get your favorite shows and films.

Cyber Monday Smart Home Deals

Google Home Bundle

To get a jumpstart on your smart home lifestyle, Google’s offering a bundle for $130 off that includes the Google Home Hub, a Google Home voice assistant, and a three-pack of its Google Wifi mesh network router.

Ring Video Doorbell 2 with Amazon Echo Dot

Amazon’s $200 Ring Video Doorbell 2 is available for $139, a $60 discount. You can get a free Echo Dot with your purchase, too.

New story in Technology from Time: Facebook’s Outgoing Head of Communications Takes Fall for Hiring Opposition Firm

NEW YORK — Facebook’s outgoing head of communications is taking the blame for hiring Definers, the public relations firm doing opposition research on the company’s critics, including billionaire philanthropist George Soros.

In a Facebook post that went up late Wednesday, Elliot Schrage said the responsibility to hire Definers rests with him and that he approved the decision to hire it and similar firms.

Schrage provided his explanation in a message sent Tuesday to Facebook’s employees, but the company waited until late Wednesday to publicly share it at a time when most people in its home country were focusing on the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg also didn’t mention Schrage’s role in hiring and working with Definers in an interview with CNN aired late Tuesday.

Definers’ link to the Menlo Park, California, company was exposed in a story published by The New York Times earlier this month.

Schrage has been at Facebook for a decade and announced his departure in June. In the post, he acknowledges that Facebook asked Definers “to do work” on Soros after he called Facebook a “menace to society” in a January speech. Definers also helped respond to what Schrage described as unfair claims about the company.

Even so, Schrage conceded that Definers’ got carried away in its work to discredit Facebook’s critics. The system he set up on the company’s communications team “failed here and I’m sorry I let you all down,” he wrote.

Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, followed up with Schrage’s note of contrition with one of her own, acknowledging her responsibility for overseeing Facebook’s communications team. Like Schrage, Sandberg was a top executive at Google before coming to Facebook a decade ago.

Sandberg said she did not remember Definers when she the Times article, but said she then asked employees to double check if she had ever been notified about the firm.

“Some of their work was incorporated into materials presented to me and I received a small number of emails where Definers was referenced,” Sandberg wrote.

Zuckerberg, who is Facebook’s controlling shareholder as well as its CEO, is standing behind Sandberg, despite the backlash caused by the company’s retention of Definers and its campaign against Soros. He told CNN on Tuesday that he hopes to work with Sandberg “for decades” to come.

Facebook stopped working with Definers after the New York Times’ investigation unveiled its tactics.

New story in Technology from Time: These Are Google’s Best Black Friday Deals

Whether you need a smartphone, smart TV, smart home assistant, or smart charger that turns your smartphone into a smart home assistant that can control your suddenly smart TV, Google’s Black Friday specials might have what you’re looking for.

Smart Home Assistants

Google’s entire Home line of smart home assistants is getting some serious discounts. The new $150 Google Home Hub is now $99, the original and customizable $130 Google Home is now $79, and the tiny $49 Google Home Mini is just $25. Even the bass-blasting $400 Google Home Max is $50 cheaper, making the $350 purchase a bit easier to stomach.

Chromecast Devices

Adding a Chromecast device to your existing home theater setup makes streaming from mobile apps and even your PC incredibly simple, and extends the world of Google Assistant past the realm of audio-only interaction. You can add a 4K-capable $69 Chromecast Ultra to your home for $49, or get the cheaper 1080p-friendly Chromecast for $25, saving yourself $10.

If you’re looking to connect your existing speakers to the Google Chromecast ecosystem, you can get the $35 Chromecast Audio for $15.

Chromebooks

If high-end Chromebooks are your cup of tea, you can slash $300 off Google’s year-old Pixelbook, though with the Pixel Slate coming soon, I’d hold off on this particular purchase unless you certain it’s right for you. Speaking of the Pixel Slate, which begins shipping in December, you can get three free months of YouTube TV if you purchase one before year’s end.

Pixel Smartphones

Google’s Pixel 3 was released only a few months ago, but already it’s getting a pretty decent discount. You can save $150 when purchasing the $800 Pixel 3, and $200 when buying the larger $900 Pixel 3 XL. Each runs the latest version of Android straight from the source and has an amazing camera, so you’ll probably be glad you got one just in time for the holidays.

You’ll probably want some wireless headphones to go with your new smartphone, so you should consider Google’s $160 Pixel Buds, especially since you can get a pair for $50 less.

New story in Technology from Time: Amazon’s Black Friday Tech Deals Are Full of Stocking Stuffers

With many of this Black Friday’s most popular deals available online, you might as well kick it off with a few orders from the comfort of your own home. Along those lines, Amazon’s got a slew of discounts and price drops for all manner of smart home devices, televisions, accessories, and other electronics you need to deck the halls with loads of high-tech devices.

If you’re an Amazon faithful, or simply won’t attempt to venture out into the world to save a few bucks on a laptop or TV, here are a few picks out of the thousands of tech deals you can snag without worry.

Black Friday Smart Home Deals

Blink Security Cameras

Amazon’s Blink Home Security brand is knocking anywhere from $33 to $150 off its Blink XT security cameras. Your savings will vary depending on the number of cameras you want, but it can’t hurt to start with just one if you want a device with a years-long battery life and support for HD video recording.

August Smart Lock Pro + Connect

Add an extra level of security and convenience to your home with the August Smart Lock Pro + Connect. You can save up to $50 when purchasing the smart lock and Wi-Fi bridge accessory that makes it possible to control your home security from anywhere.

Philips Hue

Amazon’s knocking up to 40% off its stock of Philips Hue smart lighting devices, perfect for adding a little (or a lot of) colorful lighting to your abode.

Amazon Echo Devices

Amazon’s line of Echo devices are getting deep discounts during Black Friday. Whether you’re interested in saving $25 when purchasing the third-generation Echo Dot, or picking up the Echo Plus for $109, you can also add an extra bit of smart home functionality by adding the normally $25 Amazon Smart Plug for $5.

PCs & Tablet Black Friday Deals

A variety of PCs, from Chromebooks to gaming rigs, are on sale. You can expect to see discounts on Acer’s Predator gaming laptop, Cyberpower’s gaming desktop towers, and other PC accessories (like Dell’s gigantic gaming monitor, or HP’s portable Sprocket printer).

Amazon Fire Tablets

Amazon’s line of inexpensive and kid-friendly tablets is getting some serious discounts. You can get its Fire 7 tablet for $30, its larger and more recently released Fire 8 HD tablet for $50, and its larger Fire HD 10 tablet for $100.

TV & Home Theater Black Friday Deals

Toshiba 50” 4K UHD TV

If you’re looking for a sizable television with some built-in streaming features, Toshiba’s 50-inch 4K UHD with built-in Fire TV software is right up your alley. You can save $100 and pay $299 for a home theater centerpiece with built-in Wi-Fi and seamless integration of live TV channels when paired with an over-the-air antenna.

LG Smart 4K TV

Save up to 15% on LG’s latest smart 4K TV models, boasting both compatibility with Amazon Alexa and a selection of included streaming video providers thanks to its smart WebOS software, so you can leave the dongles and sticks behind.

Fire TV Stick 4K

Already got a fancy 4K television? You can save $15 and add Amazon’s 4K-capable Fire TV Stick to your existing setup for $39, which comes with an updated Alexa Voice Remote that can turn on and adjust the volume of your entire home theater setup.

New story in Technology from Time: Microsoft’s Black Friday Deals Are a Gamer’s Dream

Black Friday is just days away, and pretty much every tech company’s getting in on the holiday shopping season. That includes Microsoft, which is slashing a few bucks off its Surface line of devices and Xbox One consoles, among other items.

If you’re in need of a capable Windows 10 machine, or want to add a new game console and media player to your home theater setup, you may as well take advantage of these discounts before they’re gone.

Windows Laptops Black Friday Deals

Whether you’re in the market for a new laptop or just want something different, you can save money on Microsoft’s Surface line of portable Windows 10 notebooks, as long as you don’t mind the all-black aesthetic. Traditionalists looking for that iconic laptop experience can save up to $300 on Microsoft’s new matte black Surface Laptop 2, which features a fabric covered keyboard and a battery that’ll keep you going the entire work day.

Want something more versatile? The new Surface Pro 6 is also an option, and you can save up to $330 on the black variant when paired with the black detachable Type Cover. You can save even more — up to $360 — if you go with the barebones Surface Pro Core M, the low-end version of last year’s model.

For those looking for a truly portable laptop, or something to get some basic writing or web browsing done, the non-LTE version of the 10-inch Surface Go (usually $399) is discounted by $50.

Xbox One Black Friday Deals

Xbox One owners who want a taste of Microsoft’s new Xbox Game Pass service can score a month of access to over 100 Xbox One and Xbox 360 games for a dollar. You can also pair it with a month of Xbox Live Gold for a buck, which adds online multiplayer support to your games and lets you play a few titles for free every month.

Don’t have an Xbox? You’re in luck, as Microsoft’s also got savings for nearly every Xbox One bundle it sells. The most enticing offer knocks $100 off the Xbox One X’s $499 sticker price, but if you’re looking for a console with a game or two included, you can save $70 by purchasing any of the available $429 Xbox One X bundles.

If saving dough is paramount, you can save $70 and get a less powerful Xbox One S for $229, which comes with either a bundled game or three months of Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold. Either way, you still end up with a capable console and a 4K Blu-ray player.

The Xbox One is a game console, so you should probably have at least one game. Luckily, there are some hefty discounts — up to 65% — available in the Microsoft Store. If you’ve got an Xbox Live Gold account (or take advantage of the aforementioned one dollar promotion) you can save even more money on your purchase. No need to break the bank to enjoy some Cuphead, after all.

Oh, you’ll probably need an extra controller or two, so be sure to take advantage of the $20 discount on certain Xbox One controllers, or the $10 discount on your own custom controller from the Xbox Design Lab.