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And during Black Friday, it's more than $1000 off — the absolute best gaming laptop deal we've seen so far. Deal Alienware m15 Ryzen™ Edition R5 Gaming Laptop Alienware gaming laptops are notoriously expensive. Great Price ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 Gaming Laptop The ROG Zephyrus G14 has the specs of a high-end gaming laptop for an affordable price. The best gaming laptops have top-of-the-line GPUs built into them, which is what lets them run new games with the best visuals possible. Where can you find the best Black Friday gaming laptop deals?

SKIP AHEAD Best deals at Amazon | Best deals at Walmart | Best deals at Target | Best deals at Best Buy | Best Black Friday salesTo help you make the most of the shopping holiday ahead, we compiled some of the best Black Friday deals and sales that we think you’ll want to know about. Best Black Friday 2022 deals across retailersBelow, we’re sharing the best Black Friday deals based on our previous coverage and reporting. 4.7-star average rating from 73,237 reviews at TargetOral-B’s Pro 1000 electric toothbrush is one of the best models you can buy. 4.7-star average rating from 10,600 on AmazonThis cookware set comes with 8-inch and 10-inch nonstick fry pans. Best Black Friday 2022 sales across retailersHere are the best Black Friday sales that we think you’ll want to know about.

If you've been on the hunt for the best Black Friday gaming deals and Xbox discounts, here's a big one: Microsoft has dropped the price of the Xbox Series S for Black Friday, offering it for only $240. That means that you can buy the Xbox Series S at a discount from Microsoft's official online store, as well as other retailers like Amazon. Great Price Xbox Series S During the holidays, Microsoft is offering their budget console, the Xbox Series S, for $60 off. $239.99 from Microsoft Originally $299.99 Save 20%The Xbox Series S is one of Microsoft's two current generation consoles, along with the Xbox Series X. The Xbox Series S is less powerful, has half the storage space, and offers native 1440p gaming, whereas the Xbox Series X can support 4K gaming and has a disc drive that supports 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.

☆ Microsoft has laid down a plan to double the size of its advertising business to $20 billion
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Microsoft Advertising has ambitions to double the size of its ads business to $20 billion. Today, Wilk heads up Microsoft Advertising, a $10 billion business. Microsoft is now looking to double the size of its ads business, Wilk said, though he didn't offer a timeframe of when it might hit that target. If Microsoft Advertising were to grow into a $20 billion business, it would overtake Chinese tech giant Tencent. Gaming could become an important Microsoft Advertising assetGaming will become another key driver of Microsoft's advertising growth.

☆ FTC likely to file lawsuit to block Microsoft bid for Activision -Politico
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard logo in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationNov 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is likely to file an antitrust lawsuit to block Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) $69 billion takeover bid for video game publisher Activision Blizzard Inc (ATVI.O), Politico reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The acquisition could damage the industry if Microsoft refused to give rivals access to Activision's best-selling games, Britain's antitrust regulator has said. The deal has drawn criticism from Sony, maker of the Playstation console, citing Microsoft's control of games like "Call of Duty." A spokesperson for Microsoft said: "We are prepared to address the concerns of regulators, including the FTC, and Sony to ensure the deal closes with confidence.

☆ Activision stock drops after report says watchdog will try to block $69 billion Microsoft deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Activision shares fell 4% in after-hours trading Wednesday. Microsoft agreed to buy Activision for $69 billion in January. Activision fell as much as 5.9% after the closing bell and were down 3.9% to trade at $73.60 at last check. Politico reported Wednesday that the Federal Trade Commission is likely to try and block Microsoft's $69 billion deal to buy Activision through an antitrust lawsuit, citing three people with knowledge of the matter. Read more: Warren Buffett says his team didn't know Microsoft was planning to buy Activision Blizzard when they bought the gaming stock

☆ 'They are untouchable': Microsoft employees say 'golden boy' executives are still running wild, 8 years after the company vowed to clean up its toxic culture
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +23 min

The Microsoft executive walked into the small, windowless room in Studio C at about 8 o'clock that evening. Despite Nadella's public stance against those he has called "talented jerks," many inside the company say Microsoft retains a nearly unlimited tolerance for bad behavior by its top rainmakers and developers. "The Microsoft of 2021 is very different from the Microsoft of 2000 to me and to everyone at Microsoft," Nadella said. But some women say the investigations drag on for months or even years, with no clear timeline for resolution. What's more, some employees say Microsoft's efforts to promote racial equity often smack of tokenism.

☆ Here's what you need to know before you shop for a new TV on Black Friday
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Sofia Pitt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

"TVs you'll find on Black Friday are typically going to be entry-level sets," said Paul Gagnon, vice president and industry advisor for the market research company The NPD Group. People will be able to play Xbox Game Pass games over a cloud connection on 2022 Samsung smart TVs. When it comes to using the preloaded apps on your TV, it's important to know that smart TV stores, where you can download apps for your TV, vary depending on the TV's brand. Samsung TVs will let you access the Samsung Smart TV store, and LG TVs have the LG Content Store. If you're relying on the TV's built-in applications, Gagnon suggested, make sure the smart TV you're buying supports all the streaming apps you frequently use.

SKIP AHEAD Best deals at Amazon | Best deals at Walmart | Best deals at Target | Best deals at Best Buy | Best Black Friday salesTo help you make the most of the shopping holiday ahead, we compiled some of the best Black Friday deals and sales that we think you’ll want to know about. Best Black Friday 2022 deals across retailersBelow, we’re sharing the best Black Friday deals based on our previous coverage and reporting. 4.5-star average rating from 3,428 reviews at TargetDry, style and add volume to your hair with this tool from Revlon. 4.7-star average rating from 73,237 reviews at TargetOral-B’s Pro 1000 electric toothbrush is one of the best models you can buy. Best Black Friday 2022 sales across retailersHere are the best Black Friday sales that we think you’ll want to know about.

In September, she and her boyfriend, Jay, moved into their teal 30-foot school bus and started living and working from the road. Now, she works from her converted school bus and makes up to $15,000 per month. CNBC Make It"The goal was to make a couple of hundred dollars every month for gas money," Everdeen, 31, tells CNBC Make It. But that freedom has a lofty price tag: Everdeen and Jay bought their school bus from a government auction for $7,324 in January 2020. They decided to buy the school bus, and started deconstructing its seats and windows to convert it into their 30-foot home.

☆ Microsoft's latest data on hacks and why you may need new login, passwords fast
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

That's a 74% rise in one year, according to the latest Microsoft Digital Defense Report. But many people still rely on passwords, and don't even use the two-factor authentication now considered critical. "As long as passwords are still part of the equation, they're vulnerable," Joy Chik, Microsoft's vice president of identity, wrote in a September 2021 company blog post. Based on a sample of more than 39 million IoT and OT devices, about 20% used identical usernames and passwords, according to the Microsoft report. Even if a provider doesn't require it to be used, multi-factor authentication is a valuable security tool that's underutilized, according to security professionals.

SKIP AHEAD Cyber Monday 2021 bestsellers | Is Cyber Monday a thing? What to buy and what to skip on Cyber MondayWhen Cyber Monday began, it was known as a tech-heavy deals day, said Kristin McGrath, shopping expert and senior editor at RetailMeNot. Apple products are often discounted during sales events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and AirPods, Apple Watches and Apple Pencils were all top sellers on Cyber Monday 2021. Because the line between Black Friday and Cyber Monday has blurred over the years — and because deals now start so early — many shoppers are wondering, is Cyber Monday still a “thing”? “Cyber Week” refers to the week after Cyber Monday, which is full of sales and deals from online retailers.

☆ Microsoft wants to create more competition among game publishers, CEO Satya Nadella says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

SeongJoon Cho | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesMicrosoft CEO Satya Nadella says the American tech giant wants to create more competition among game publishers, as it faces an anticompetition probe over its $69 billion offer to buy Activision Blizzard . Activision Blizzard, the American game publisher behind popular franchises such as Call of Duty, Warcraft, and Candy Crush, could boost Microsoft's mobile gaming presence where it is largely absent. Microsoft has largely been in the console and PC video game businesses, offering access to hundreds of games via their video game subscription services Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. What can Microsoft uniquely do for gamers and game publishers? When asked about the next step if the Activision Blizzard deal doesn't happen, Nadella said: "We have been in gaming for decades.

If you've been on the hunt for the best Black Friday gaming deals, here's a big one: Microsoft is dropping the price of the Xbox Series S for the holidays, offering it for only $250. Target in particular is offering a fantastic bundle that gets you the Xbox Series S for $250, along with a $50 Target gift card included at no extra cost. Great Price Xbox Series S During the holidays, Microsoft is offering their budget console, the Xbox Series S, for $50 off. $249.99 from Target Originally $299.99 Save 17%The Xbox Series S is one of Microsoft's two current generation consoles, along with the Xbox Series X. The Xbox Series S is less powerful, has half the storage space, and offers native 1440p gaming, whereas the Xbox Series X can support 4K gaming and has a disc drive that supports 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.

☆ Microsoft brings casual games Minesweeper and Solitaire to Teams to spruce up virtual meetings
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Next time you're bored on a Microsoft Teams call, try joining your colleagues in a game of Minesweeper. Microsoft on Wednesday added a collection of casual games to its Teams chat and calling service as the company tries to get people to spend more time in the app. Teams is now available on most popular devices, and desktop software developers including Adobe and SAP have developed Teams integrations. By adding games, Microsoft is trying to sprinkle some fun into the equation and perhaps even strengthen bonds at work. The classic Klondike game, for example, is part of the Microsoft Solitaire Collection app for Windows.

☆ Chinese brands outnumber foreign names among Singles Day best-sellers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A delivery worker wearing a protective mask rides an electric scooter across a street ahead of Alibaba's Singles' Day shopping festival, following a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Shanghai, China, November 10, 2022. Alibaba said Singles Day sales were in line with last year, when gross merchandise value rose 8.5%, the lowest since the company started the shopping event in 2009. For the first time, Alibaba did not announce sales data this year. Alibaba rival JD.com said that in the 28 hours from 8 p.m. on Oct. 31, Chinese brands accounted for 80% of the sales of the top 20 brands. ($1 = 7.1066 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Sophie Yu, Brenda Goh; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ EU opens deeper probe of Microsoft’s Activision deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN Business —The European Union is taking a closer look at Microsoft’s proposed $68.7 billion purchase of video game giant Activision Blizzard, citing concerns the deal could hurt competition in the video game industry. A preliminary review of the deal found that Microsoft (MSFT) could try to withhold the games it’s acquiring from other distributors, according to an EU press release. And, according to an EU press release, authorities are concerned the deal may allow Microsoft to concentrate power in its own cloud gaming service and prevent rival cloud services from gaining access to Activision (ATVI) games. In September, the United Kingdom announced it had opened a second-stage investigation into the proposed deal. We want people to have more access to games, not less.”

☆ Microsoft's $69 bln Activision bid faces EU antitrust probe
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"The preliminary investigation suggests that Microsoft may have the ability, as well as a potential economic incentive, to engage in foreclosure strategies vis-à-vis Microsoft's rival distributors of console video games," it added. Microsoft said it would work with the EU antitrust watchdog to address valid marketplace concerns. The EU competition enforcer said it would decide by March 23, 2023 whether to clear or block the deal. Reuters reported on Oct. 31 that Microsoft would face an extensive EU probe after declining to offer remedies during the preliminary EU review of the deal. Britain's antitrust watchdog is also investigating the acquisition, with similar concerns to its EU peer.

☆ Cloud gaming is not a transformation we expect to see in the next 3-5 years, says Microsoft's Phil Spencer
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCloud gaming is not a transformation we expect to see in the next 3-5 years, says Microsoft's Phil SpencerPhil Spencer, Microsoft Gaming CEO, joins 'TechCheck' to discuss what he expects to see on the consumer gaming front, what Xbox's mobile store will look like and what is happening in cloud gaming.

☆ EA lowers bookings expectation on strong dollar, gaming slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 1 (Reuters) - Electronic Arts Inc (EA.O) lowered its annual bookings forecast on Tuesday as the publisher of "FIFA" and "Apex Legends" struggles with this year's surge in the U.S. dollar and a gaming industry slowdown from pandemic heights. The company now expects annual bookings - an indicator of future revenue - between $7.65 billion and $7.85 billion, compared with $7.90 billion to $8.10 billion earlier. A near 17% rise in the U.S. dollar this year has also stifled growth, with EA forecasting a roughly $200 million hit to annual bookings. EA booked second-quarter adjusted sales of $1.75 billion, missing the $1.80 billion expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv data. Net income rose to $299 million, or $1.07 per share, from $294 million, or $1.02 per share, a year earlier.

☆ Sony Q2 gaming profit tumbles 50% on higher costs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Sam Nussey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: Sony Corp's logo is seen on its Crystal LED Integrated Structure (CLEDIS) display at its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonTOKYO (Reuters) -Sony Group Corp’s second-quarter profit at its key gaming unit fell by 50% from a year earlier as the entertainment conglomerate booked higher costs from game development and acquisitions, the company said on Tuesday. The Tokyo-headquartered company’s gaming unit recorded a profit of 42.1 billion yen ($284.63 million) after selling 3.3 million units of its PlayStation 5 (PS5) console in the second quarter, equal to the year ago sales. It trimmed its full-year forecast for the games business by 12% to 225 billion yen citing lower software sales from third-party developers and the impact of dollar-denominated costs. Sony reported overall group operating profit rose 8% to 344 billion yen ($2.32 billion) in the July-September quarter, beating analyst estimates, after units including the music business offset the weakness in gaming.

☆ We still believe in AMD's future potential, but near-term results make it difficult to see
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) reported fiscal third-quarter results that missed lowered expectations on after the closing bell Tuesday. Revenue in AMD's third-quarter increased 29% to $5.57 billion, missing estimates of $5.62 billion. Data center revenue remains resilient thanks to strong North American cloud demand, where AMD is strongest, while Embedded segment sales benefited from strong end market demand. While the long-term drivers of growth — cloud computing, gaming, and digitization — appear fully intact, the near-term issues must be resolved. Gaming revenue was $1.6 billion, up 14% year over year and also in line with estimates driven by higher semi-custom product sales.

☆ No Microsoft remedies in first EU antitrust review of Activision deal - source
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) has not offered any remedies to EU antitrust regulators reviewing its proposed $69 billion bid for "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O) ahead of an expected full-scale EU probe, a person familiar with the matter said on Monday. The European Commission, which is scheduled to finish its preliminary assessment of the deal by Nov. 8, said its website was up to date. Microsoft said it continues to work with the Commission on the next steps and to address any valid marketplace concerns, such as those voiced by Sony. Companies typically do not offer remedies during the EU preliminary review when they know regulators subsequently intend to open a four-month long investigation. Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by David EvansOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

One year and billions of dollars later, the so-called metaverse still feels years away, if it ever manifests at all. And Meta’s flagship social VR app Horizon Worlds can feel like a ghost town (albeit a ghost town with laser tag). Meta’s latest headset, the Quest Pro, is its first effort at combining the immersiveness of VR with the real world. The VR headset market is still tiny compared to, say, an established gadget market like console video games. A visitor to the 2022 Tokyo Game Show tests the Meta Quest 2 VR headset.

☆ Meta has spent $36 billion building the metaverse but still has little to show for it, while tech sensations such as the iPhone, Xbox, and Amazon Echo cost way less
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Meta has thrown $36 billion at the metaverse but plans to spend many billions more on the project. Wary investors are calling for Meta to focus its effort on its profitable divisions. Insider compiled a list of tech breakthroughs that cost far less than the metaverse push. Meta, according to an Insider analysis of the firm's financial filings, has pumped $36 billion into its Reality Labs division since 2019. However, Mark Zuckerberg is continuing to pour billions into his metaverse dream, arguing that it's the future of computing.

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