Tech Boys

Productivity setups are a personal thing. Some people swear by to-do lists and apps, some people like scheduling and planners. For those in the latter camp, Google has made a minor but valuable addition to the Workspace suite. Going forward, you'll be able to block off segments of time in Google Calendar for working on specific tasks. You can add descriptions and set your preferences for that task in regard to do not disturb and visibility settings. It's a nice step up from scheduling meetings with yourself when you have to focus on a particular assignment (which several of us at Engadget have been known to do). Google This option began appearing for Google's Rapid Release domains earlier in November, while standard release domains will see a gradual release beginning December 1. Once it’s fully rolled out, it will be available by default, whether you're a Google Workspaces customer or just using a personal Google account. This article originally appeared on Enga...

The Game Awards 2025 has finally revealed its nominees for categories such as Best Racing Game, Best Sports Game, and the coveted Game of the Year. This has been one of the best years for gaming in recent memory. Nintendo launched the Switch 2 , the successor to its dominating console and handheld hybrid, and Xbox dipped its own toes into the handheld market with the ROG Xbox Ally . There have been some incredible hits across the industry from small indies like Blue Prince and Despelote , as well as blockbusters like Doom: The Dark Ages , Split Fiction , and Monster Hunter Wilds . There have also been quite a few late-year surprises like ARC Raiders and Dispatch . But only one game can take home 2025’s Game of the Year award, and there are only six nominees. Keep reading to learn how to vote in The Game Awards 2025 as well as the full list of categories and nominees, from best indie game to best art direction. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the clea...

Game publisher Paradox Interactive has split with Colossal Order, the studio behind Cities: Skylines II . Colossal Order, which also made the original Cities: Skylines back in 2015, will move on to something new after completing a few last updates. The intellectual property will remain with Paradox, which said today that work on Cities: Skylines II will be moved to Iceflake Studios. The Finland-based internal team will be responsible for all development, including future content updates and the long-awaited console version, starting in 2026. The move comes after about two years of trying to salvage the citybuilding sequel and the reputations of all parties. While the game was initially expected to debut in October 2023 on PC and consoles, the launch was limited to PC, with higher minimum specs than previously announced and with a lot of bugs. The ongoing issues caused tension and toxicity between Colossal Order and the Cities: Skylines audience. Although the game has reached a m...

At this point, it should be clear that anything you read from Google’s AI Overview needs to be taken with a grain of salt — including when it starts labeling real video games as fictional. Case in point: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 . For the past few months, searching "Black Ops 7" on Google has returned a bizarre response from the search engine’s Gemini-powered AI Overview, which insists the game doesn’t exist. " Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is a fictional video game that does not exist," the AI claims. It even elaborates: "The search results describe a hypothetical game with a November 14, 2025, release date, a story set in 2035 that continues the narrative from Black Ops 2 and Black Ops ... The fictional game includes co-op campaign, multiplayer, and a Zombies mode." Credit: Screenshot: Google What makes the situation even stranger is that everything the AI lists — from the release date to the 2035 setting to the available modes — is actually true...

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle , then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine. There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown. An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle. If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered. SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint To tease. SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook...

Dreams really can come true. In some cases, that looks like landing the job you've always wanted, or finding the love of your life. In my case, that looks like reading an excerpt of a made-up romantasy novel from a TV show. That show is Vince Gilligan and Apple TV's sci-fi series,  Pluribus , and that novel is none other than  Bloodsong of Wycaro  by Carol Sturka  (played by Rhea Seehorn). SEE ALSO: 'Pluribus' review: I can't tell you much about Vince Gilligan's sci-fi series, but what I can say is glowing As viewers learn in the Pluribus premiere, Bloodsong of Wycaro is "the fourth book in [Carol's] Winds of Wycaro trilogy." The series as a whole is a bestselling phenomenon, with diehard fans eager to see how the high-stakes romance between Captain Lucasia and corsair Raban unfolds. Carol hates the fans and her work, but that didn't stop me from hoping the Wycaro books could somehow become a reality . And now they have! Kind of. ...

TL;DR:  Get a refurbished Apple MacBook Air on sale for $194.97 with free shipping through Nov. 16 (reg. $999). This is a great device for everyday use. Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 2017 (Refurbished) $194.97 $999 Save $804.03   Get Deal Yes, you read that right. You can grab one of Apple’s infamous MacBook Airs for under $200, and there’s no catch. Well, inventory is extremely low, so you’ll have to make sure to get yours before they sell out. But you get the same performance, portability, and quality MacBooks are known for, except you only pay $194.97 vs. the $999 MSRP because of its refurbished status. You’ll also receive free shipping for a limited time. SEE ALSO: Apple's new M5 iPad Pro keeps getting cheaper — score it for its best price yet Powered by a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor and Intel HD Graphics 6000, this MacBook Air breezes through web browsing, email, shopping, streaming, and basic work pr...

Researchers at MIT have been working with the South Korean beauty company Amorepacific for the past few years to develop a wearable "electronic skin" platform that can provide real-time insights about skin aging and make personalized skincare recommendations, and it's due to debut at CES 2026 as "Skinsight." Skinsight, which was announced as one of the CES 2026 Innovation Award Honorees this week, is a Bluetooth-equipped sensor patch that sticks to the skin and works with a mobile app, tracking skin tightness, UV exposure, temperature and moisture. An artist's rendering of the Skinsight patch showing various sensors and a bluetooth module Amorepacific Based on the readings, the AI-powered app will approximate how the different factors might contribute to or speed up skin aging, and suggest the products best suited for the job so the user can incorporate them into their skincare routine. The patch is designed to be breathable and withstand sweat so it ca...

Best early Black Friday deals Best Apple deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749.99 (save $149.01) Get Deal Best headphones deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones $299 (save $130) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Eufy X10 Pro Omni $499.99 at Amazon (save $400) Get Deal Best TV deal TCL 75-inch QM6K Mini LED QLED 4K TV $698 (save $301.99) Get Deal We're officially back in Black Friday season, folks. Though Black Friday falls on Nov. 28 this year, retailers are already kicking off sales. Best Buy dropped early deals and doorbusters on Oct. 31, and Target started their first holiday savings event on Nov. 6. Even though retailers like Walmart and Amazon haven't kicked off any programming yet (you can expect that to start on Nov. 14 and Nov. 20, respectively), we've spotted plenty of Black Friday-worthy deals that you can shop early to get ahead of your holiday list. Keep checking back for ...