There’s no better way to read nowadays than with a Kindle. Sure, having a physical book in your hands has its special appeal, but lugging multiple books around when you’re out and about — say, on a commute — isn’t the easiest or most convenient thing to do. Thankfully, this early Black Friday deal has slashed the prices on Amazon’s newest Kindle down to $85 (23 percent off) and the newest Kindle Paperwhite down to $130 (19 percent off). Both were released this year, making these the best-ever prices so far. The Paperwhite is larger than the regular Kindle, with a 7-inch display (compared to the Kindle’s 6-inch display) and built-in adjustable warm light. The device is also waterproof and features a full-front design. While the regular Kindle also allows you to adjust screen brightness levels, the Paperwhite features more LEDs, meaning better lighting control. I personally switched to the Paperwhite over a decade ago and have continued to upgrade to newer models as they come out, and I don’t plan on going back. There are only two real reasons to opt for a basic Kindle over the Paperwhite: either you’re on a tight budget or you prefer the compact, travel-friendly size with smaller screen. If you’re considering the Paperwhite, you might also want to consider the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition that’s down to $155 (23 percent off), which also released this year and is currently at its best-ever price. This one has double the storage space and wireless charging. Lastly, if you want an e-reader for your kids, the newest Kindle Kids is down to $95 (27 percent off) and the newest Kindle Paperwhite Kids is down to $140 (22 percent off). Both come with one year of Amazon Kids+ with thousands of age-appropriate ebooks and graphic novels, and both have two-year worry-free guarantees where Amazon will replace them if they break for any reason, no questions asked. This is the best Black Friday for bookworms, young and old. Don’t miss this chance to equip yourself with one (or more) of these Kindles at the lowest prices they’ve ever been. The newest Kindle is now $85Buy now on Amazon The newest Kindle Paperwhite is now $130Buy now on Amazon The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is now $155Buy now on Amazon The newest Kindle Kids is now $95Buy now on Amazon The newest Kindle Paperwhite Kids is now $140Buy now on Amazon Read...

I’m late to the RPG Baldur’s Gate 3. I held out for over a year before purchasing it despite the fact that the game surpasses any released in the franchise so far with its excellent graphics, unprecedented freedom to explore, and ability to interact with the environment. What finally got me in then? Admittedly, it’s the one thing I absolutely can’t resist in a top-rated RPG — the fact that it now has mods! That change in a game as detailed and intuitive as BG3 is sheer gold for me, making every cent paid for it an irresistible value proposition. It has also got me thinking: Why can’t all RPGs have mods? Mods undeniably spice up games It’s not like BG3 needed anything extra to make it a great game. No, it’s obviously one of the best turn-based RPG’s available today with its enchanting high-fantasy open world that reacts to you as a player and allows you to have your own unique experience. It’s more that the mods — everything from character changes to new weapons and objects and new game mechanics — allow me to squeeze even more value from this classic game thereby multiplying the fun 100x. Whereas before the game was well worth $60, the value I will reap from this game over time will pay for itself many, many times over. To be sure, now that BG3 has mods, the game will not only be different each time I play it, it won’t even be close to the experience I’ve had before — which leads me to an important point: I now have the agency to personalize it as I wish, just as I can personalize myriad other aspects of my life, from the topping on my vanilla ice-cream to the color of my cellphone case. I can now play solo as a lone wolf by increasing the rate at which I earn XP, or as any exciting creature from the Dungeons and Dragons world by accessing dozens of other races. I can choose to give my character a funky new beard, new spells, or endless objects so as to never be without what I need on my journey, and that’s just for starters. Who knows what other tantalizing mods are in the works down the track…Additional quests? Bring it on! Baldur’s Gate 3 now has a ton of mods that help to further enrich the gameplay. Larian Studios In essence BG3 has been reassigned from occupying a frustrating category of RPGs where I quickly run out of content and lose interest, to being on my list of most important games — the games that can keep me engaged for decades, indefinitely even. In this category some of my favorite games of all time reside — titles like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Portal 2, which together have more than 200,000 downloadable mods. It’s thanks to mods that these games have stood the test of time. They’ve weathered a changing games industry characterized by new, more powerful hardware and better graphics, the release of countless new RPGs, and more importantly, they’ve kept their original communities alive — something that games without mods often struggle to do. More reasons to get modding Despite the replayability aspect mods bring, there are plenty of other reasons RPGs should have mods. For the detail-conscious among us that like to nitpick every spelling mistake, grammatical error, or abnormal pixel, mods are a great opportunity to fix these things — especially when official updates fail to do so. Bethesda’s Skyrim is proof of this. Some of the best Skyrim fixes have had big, positive impacts on gameplay, like the AIM FIX mod that made archery and magic spells more accurately go where the player intended. Skyrim owes a lot of its timeless longevity to thousands of mods that have kept players coming back for more.Dominic Bayley / IDG Others, although less critical to gameplay, like the Skyrim mod that fixed the illumination to the right side of a Khajiit’s tail, may seem funny, but they too work to keep discussion alive and keep players interested and engrossed in the game, which is entirely the point. Yep, it’s almost never mentioned, but mods are a goldmine for keeping community together. I have friends I made way back in the fledgling days of 2011 when Skyrim first released that are still contributing regularly on forums today, which is so heartening. An added benefit of games with mods is that they often spawn whole new games. Indeed, favorites like Garry’s Mod and DOTA owe their very existence to modding. These are games we never would have seen if not for budding games developers wanting to cut their teeth in development by modifying games they love. The arguments against modding Having just sung the praises of mods, there are arguments doing the rounds against them. Mods unfairly change competitive multiplayer games, open opportunities for cheating, or spoil the developer’s intended experience, some naysayers say. I don’t wholly disagree with those points — mods can have the potential to do those things — but they can also be managed to avoid those problems. Mods are easy to make and quick to apply and remove, and they are entirely optional, which makes them so relevant to RPGs especially. As a genre, RPGs have always been about giving players a choice — and you certainly have choice with mods, as opposed to game updates or patches that can prevent you playing the game if you don’t download them. Indeed, if you don’t like a mod, you can always choose not to use it, in the same way you can choose to eat ice cream without sprinkles. Me? The more toppings I can get for my vanilla, the better! Read...

Fivetran predicts that by 2025, data lakes and open file formats will be crucial for AI advancements as firms tackle data management challenges. Read...

Virtual private networks, or VPNs, are an essential tool for those looking to privately and securely use the internet. They encrypt your online traffic and hide your true IP address from would-be hackers or other snooping third parties.  While the best VPNs are usually dedicated apps, you may have also heard about VPN browser extensions. They look appealing due to their ease of use and affordable price. But which should you choose? Below I’ll give you a rundown of what a VPN browser extension does and help you decide which is the best option for you. What is a VPN browser extension? A VPN browser extension is essentially a VPN that protects the browser that it’s a part of, and only that browser. For example, a Chrome VPN browser extension will cover only that Chrome browser. Other apps that connect to the internet outside of the browser, such as games or streaming apps, won’t be protected by the extension. It might help to think of a VPN app as a fortress that protects all of your assets and a VPN browser extension as more like a small personal safe that only protects a few carefully selected items. Pros and cons of a VPN browser extension Pros A VPN browser extension can be a nice upgrade to your personal privacy and security while online. It might not come with the complete coverage of a VPN app, but it does have its advantages. VPN browser extensions are typically lightweight and don’t take up nearly as many resources as a full VPN app. As a result of this simplicity, they are also extremely easy to use. While most VPN apps require you to pay a premium for a subscription, a VPN browser extension on the other hand will usually be much cheaper, or even provided for free. Additionally, although all VPNs will slow your connection speeds down a bit due to their very nature, this speed decrease should be less noticeable with a browser extension. This is because unlike a VPN app, a VPN browser extension redirects only your browser traffic through an encrypted tunnel, rather than all of the traffic from your device. Cons A VPN browser extension is certainly better than nothing, but compared to a powerful VPN app, there are some drawbacks. VPN apps can cover all of the traffic on a single device—or network if you’re using a VPN for your router. A browser extension can only secure and anonymize the traffic coming from your web browser.  For instance, if I’m using a VPN browser extension for Firefox and I’m also playing Valorant online, while simultaneously using a streaming app to watch a movie, the VPN app will protect all of these—don’t judge, it’s called multitasking. A browser extension though will only protect the traffic coming from the Firefox browser. Another huge concern when using a VPN browser extension is the potential for data logging. Many VPN browser extensions, especially the free extensions found in the app store, are run by lesser known and often unreliable companies. These companies are known to hoover up data from unsuspecting users, putting their privacy and security at risk.  Best free VPN browser extension CyberGhost Read our review It’s important to make sure that you’re using a VPN browser extension from a reputable company with good privacy protections. Personally, I’m a big fan of CyberGhost’s free VPN browser extension, which comes with unlimited bandwidth usage and access to eight servers. Should you use a VPN app or browser extension? The answer to this question is ultimately going to come down to your personal usage and needs. A VPN app is going to provide you with complete protection for all your web-based activities. This includes web browsing, gaming, torrenting, and other app-based internet usage.  VPN apps offer complete coverage and come with a multitude of customizable features that allow you to optimize your connections. All of these protections don’t come for free though–you’ll need to cough up a not-insignificant amount of money to enjoy them. A VPN browser extension will protect all web surfing you do on that particular browser. So if you only care about using your browser to check email, watch Netflix, or surf the web, then a browser extension might be the better option. Plus, they are typically cheaper than VPN apps so those concerned about keeping expenses low might find a happy medium here between price and coverage. Overall, I personally recommend opting for a VPN app if and when possible. Most of us use more than just a browser to access the internet on a regular basis. Keeping all of your data private and secure is more important now than ever. Plus, if you opt for a long-term subscription to a good VPN you’ll end up paying just a few dollars per month. Either way, you can’t really go wrong. Using one or the other is going to give you a level of privacy and protection that you wouldn’t be getting otherwise. Read...

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TL;DR: Lifetime access to ChatGPT, Gemini, Midjourney, and more for just $29.97 (reg. $234) with 1minAI. Access top AI tools conveniently in one place with this early Black Friday deal.  AI has revolutionized how we work, but let’s be real: paying for each subscription feels like signing up for new streaming services. If you want to tap into the latest AI tools without breaking the bank, 1minAI is your solution. It brings together some of the most powerful AI models available — like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Midjourney — all in one convenient platform. 1minAI’s sidebar tools allow for seamless switching between AI models, utilizing the best of what each AI has to offer, and organizing everything it creates in one place.Whether you’re generating blog content with GPT-4 or graphic design elements with Midjourney, 1minAI helps you streamline your workflow by giving you access to the best AI technology without the hassle of managing multiple subscriptions.Streamline your workflow today with lifetime access to the top AI tools for only $29.97 (reg. $234) — this early Black Friday deal won’t last long.   1minAI: Lifetime Subscription – $29.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to Microsoft Office 2019 for Windows for $24.97, on sale for Black Friday. Microsoft Office has been a go-to for productivity, but subscription fees can be a hassle. Now you can skip the recurring costs with Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019, offering lifetime access to the essential suite for the unbeatable price of $24.97 ahead of Black Friday. This all-in-one package includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Publisher, and Teams — tools that cover everything from creating polished documents to managing professional presentations and handling email. Optimized for Windows PCs, this 2019 version of MS Office delivers modern features and a clean interface that make everyday tasks seamless. It’s ideal for professionals, students, and home users who want reliable software without worrying about subscription renewals. Say goodbye to subscriptions and hello to hassle-free productivity. For a one-time price of $24.97, this deal on a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 ensures you’ll always have access to the tools you need, without recurring fees.   Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows – $26.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

Shares in WiseTech slumped 12 per cent after the company cut its financial guidance as a result of the events of the past two months. Read...

Start-up food company Vow’s foie gras is, technically, meat. But it wasn’t made with an animal. And it isn’t legal in Australia yet. Read...