It's the start of a new month and, as always, Amazon is set to give away a ton of PC games to Prime members. Once again, it's a pretty strong lineup. There's a broad range of offerings from immersive sims and classic platformers to splashy action-adventure titles and chaotic cooking simulators.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (one of our favorite games of 2021), Mafia: Definitive Edition (a 2020 remake of the 2002 original), Dishonored, Elite Dangerous and Super Meat Boy are among the more well-known titles on the list. Overcooked is brilliant fun and, in my opinion, a perfect relationship test. Meanwhile, if the idea of building and running a dinosaur theme park in which the attractions hopefully won't run amok is your thing, Jurassic World Evolution is one on the options.
You can claim Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (via the Epic Games Store) and Mafia: Definitive Edition (via GOG) today. Here's what else you can snap up and when, along with the launcher you can play each game on:
November 7
Dishonored - Definitive Edition (GOG)
Duck Paradox (GOG)
Close To The Sun (GOG)
DisneyPixar Cars (Amazon Games App)
Bang Bang Racing (Amazon Games App)
Snakebird Complete (Epic Games Store)
November 14
Ms. Holmes: The Case of the Dancing Men Collector's Edition (Amazon Games App)
Chasm: The Rift (GOG)
House of Golf 2 (Epic Games Store)
Tomb Raider: Anniversary (GOG)
Blade of Darkness (GOG)
November 21
Max: The Curse of Brotherhood (Amazon Games App)
Overcooked: Gourmet Edition (GOG)
Gloomy Tales: One-Way Ticket Collector's Edition (Legacy Games)
Super Meat Boy (Epic Games Store)
Moonscars (GOG)
Riot - Civil Unrest (GOG)
November 27
Elite Dangerous (Epic Games Store)
Sir Whoopass - Immortal Death (GOG)
Jurassic World Evolution (Epic Games Store)
Mystery Case Files: The Dalimar Legacy Collector's Edition (Amazon Games App)
Shogun Showdown (GOG)
You still have time to grab some of October's Prime Gaming freebies, such as A Plague Tale: Innocence and Death's Door. Meanwhile, the latest batch of games that you can stream on Luna's Prime Gaming channel in eligible countries include Jackbox Party Pack 7, Saints Row: The Third - Remastered, Moving Out, Endling - Extinction is Forever and Infinite Minigolf, alongside mainstays including Fortnite and XDefiant.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/amazon-prime-free-games-for-november-include-dishonored-and-guardians-of-the-galaxy-170021817.html?src=rss
Apple is set to buy a notable developer of photo-editing apps. The company is acquiring Pixelmator, pending regulatory approval. Terms of the deal haven't been disclosed.
While it seems likely that Apple will eventually bake some of Pixelmator's tech into its own Camera and Photos apps, the latter said "there will be no material changes to the Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS and Photomator apps at this time." However, it promised there will be "exciting updates" in the future.
Pixelmator said in a statement that it has taken inspiration from Apple since the very beginning of its 17-year existence and that it has similarly focused on "design, ease of use and performance." After the deal closes and it joins Apple, Pixelmator expects to "have the ability to reach an even wider audience and make an even bigger impact on the lives of creative people around the world."
For quite some time, Pixelmator's apps have been a popular alternative to the likes of Photoshop within the Apple ecosystem. Its tools are available on Mac, iPhone, iPad and even Vision Pro.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-is-buying-the-developer-of-one-of-the-iphones-best-photo-editing-apps-165853866.html?src=rss
With each passing year, Black Friday seems to turn more and more into "Black November," with many retailers starting their holiday sales weeks before the day itself. But while the bombardment of promos can be annoying, it also presents a good chance to beat the rush and finish holiday shopping ahead of time, without paying more than you have to.
To help you cut through the noise, we're rounding up the best early Black Friday deals we can find in one easy place. While most major tech retailers haven't started their early sales in earnest just yet, we've seen more than a few new discounts on gadgets we recommend pop up this week, bringing the iPad Air, Bose QuietComfort Headphones and Hisense 4K TVs, among others, down to their lowest prices to date. We'll continuously update this post as more Black Friday sales pop up, so if you've been eyeing something else, be sure to check back.
Apple iPad Air (11-inch, M2) for $497 at Amazon ($102 off MSRP): This is a new low for the latest iPad Air, which we consider to be the best Apple tablet for most people. While it lacks the top-end performance and 120Hz OLED panel of the iPad Pro, it's much less expensive, and it still gets you a more futureproof M2 chip, a superior display and better accessory support than the base-model iPad. Also at Best Buy.
Apple iPad Air (13-inch, M2) for $694 at Amazon ($104 off): If you'd prefer more screen space, the 13-inch iPad Air is also down to an all-time low at Amazon and Best Buy. This model can get slightly brighter than its smaller counterpart, but the two slates are virtually identical otherwise.
Apple iPad mini (7th gen) for $400 at Amazon ($100 off): The latest iPad mini only just arrived this month, but it's already $100 off with an on-page coupon at Amazon. Only the purple colorway is on sale, but this is a giant discount for a new Apple release, so we wouldn't expect it to last long. We gave the new mini a review score of 83: It's a minor refresh, but it continues to provide most of the iPad Air's strengths in a form factor that's easier to tuck in a bag and hold with one hand. This deal is available in additional colors at Costco, but only to store members.
The Apple iPad Air (M2).Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Apple Pencil Pro for $93 at Amazon ($36 off): While this deal is a couple bucks higher than the lowest price we've ever seen for Apple's top-of-the-line iPad stylus, it's still a sizable drop compared to buying from Apple directly. Just be aware that Pencil Pro is only compatible with the most recent iPad Airs and iPad Pros. Also at Walmart.
Apple AirTag (4-pack) for $74 at Amazon ($25 off): The AirTag is, unsurprisingly, the top pick for iPhone users in our guide to the best Bluetooth trackers, as it uses Apple's giant network of Apple devices and ultrawideband tech to locate items accurately. Its effectiveness has had deeply unfortunate side effects, but if you use it as intended, it can provide a little extra peace of mind. While not an all-time low, this deal is a welcome drop from the usual $80 street price we've seen for a four-pack in recent months. Also at Best Buy.
Apple MacBook Air (13.6-inch, M2) for $700 at Amazon ($300 off): This matches the all-time low for Apple's last-gen MacBook Air, which remains a perfectly competent notebook for everyday use. The caveat is that this model only comes with 8GB of RAM, so it's really only meant for lower-power tasks. Apple (finally) made 16GB of memory the standard across its MacBook lineup earlier this week, so this might be an instance of Apple trying to clear out old inventory. Still, this is a great value if you only need a laptop for basic web browsing, emailing and word processing. Clip the on-page coupon to see the full discount.
The Beats Solo 4.Billy Steele for Engadget
Anker Soundcore Space A40 for $45 at Amazon ($35 off, Prime only): The Space A40 is the longtime top pick in our guide to the best budget earbuds, as it delivers the kind of robust feature set we expect from pairs that cost three times as much. Call quality isn't the best, and it won't auto-pause when you take out an earbud, but its warm sound, powerful ANC, eight-ish hours of battery life and comfy design all impress for the money. This deal ties the lowest price we've seen it's only available to Prime subscribers at Amazon, but you can also grab it at Anker's online store with an on-page coupon.
Beats Solo 4 for $100 at Amazon ($100 off): The Solo 4 is light on features and may be uncomfortable on larger heads, but its even-handed sound and 50+-hour battery life make it worth considering if you prefer a more compact on-ear design instead of traditional over-ears. We gave it a score of 79 in our review. This discount ties an all-time low and is also available at Walmart, Target and Best Buy. The full-size Beats Studio Pro is discounted as well, but that pair is a bit harder to recommend over the top picks in our wireless headphone buying guide.
Bose QuietComfort Headphones for $199 at Amazon ($150 off): This ties the lowest price we've seen for Bose's mid-tier noise-canceling headphones. At this price, their effective ANC and light fit make them a worthy alternative to higher-end pairs like the Sony WH-1000XM5 (our favorite pair overall). That said, their bass-heavy sound won't be for everyone, and the XM5 has a more comprehensive feature set. Also at Bose.com, Target and Best Buy. The higher-end QuietComfort Ultra, meanwhile, are $100 off and put out even stronger ANC, though we still prefer the XM5 for around the same price.
Anker Soundcore Motion+ for $69 at Amazon ($31 off): We recommend the Soundcore Motion+ in our guide to the best portable Bluetooth speakers. While it isn't especially light or compact, it pumps out a more spacious sound than most speakers in its price range, it's waterproof and it lasts a decent 12 to 15 hours per charge. We've seen this discount a few times before, but it comes within a few bucks of the lowest price we've tracked. Also at Anker's online store with an on-page coupon.
The Anker Soundcore Motion+.Photo by Jon Turi / Engadget
Amazon Fire HD 10 for $75 at Amazon ($65 off): No Fire HD tablet comes close to matching the performance, build quality and app support of an iPad, but they're significantly more affordable, and they still work well enough if all you need is something for casual streaming, e-reading and web browsing. At this price, the 10.1-inch Fire HD 10 is likely a better value than the smaller Fire HD 8, as it has a sharper display, it's a tick faster and it can last slightly longer on a charge. Just be ready to deal with a bunch of ads for Amazon's own apps and services. This discount ties an all-time low, and it's also available at Best Buy and Target.
Amazon Echo Show 5 for $50 at Amazon ($40 off): We highlight the Echo Show 5 in our guide to the best smart displays. While the Echo Show 8 which isn't majorly discounted yet has a roomier display, louder speakers and sharper cameras, this 5.5-inch model provides most of the same functionality in a design that's easier to fit on a nightstand. If you're already onboard the Alexa train, it'll work nicely as a smart alarm clock. This deal is $10 more than the all-time low we saw last Black Friday, so it may drop further in the weeks ahead, but for now it matches the best price we've seen in 2024. Also at Target, Kohl's and Best Buy.
Blink Outdoor 4 (6-pack) for $180 at Amazon ($300 off): The Outdoor 4 is a wireless, IP65-rated outdoor security camera we highlight in our guide to the best smart home gadgets. It captures decent (if not class-leading) 1080p video, it's relatively painless to install and it supports features like night vision, motion alerts, local storage and two-way talking. The catch is that it locks things like person detection and cloud storage behind a subscription plan. Still, it's a solid value on balance, and this deal furthers that. We've seen this price on a six-camera bundle for a few weeks, but it's still an all-time low. An eight-camera pack is also on sale for $250, another low.
Audible Premium Plus (3-month) for $1 at Amazon ($29 off): Those who don't currently subscribe to Audible can get three months of the audiobook service's Premium Plus plan for $1. Normally, the service costs $15 per month after a 30-day free trial. As a refresher, Premium Plus is Audible's upper tier: In addition to giving access the full Audible Plus library, it lets you keep one title from a curated selection of audiobooks each month. We wouldn't call it essential, but if you've been on the fence, this is a good way to see if it'd work for you. Just note that the plan will auto-renew until you cancel.
The Amazon Echo Show 5.Amazon
Hisense U7N 4K TV (65-inch) for $700 at Amazon ($300 off): Various reviews around the web suggest that the U7N is one of the year's better TV values, with impressive brightness and contrast for the money. It supports up to a fast 144Hz refresh rate in 4K, which is great for gaming, and it runs on the easy-to-grok Google TV platform. Its image can wash out when viewed at an angle, though, and it's limited to two HDMI 2.1 ports. This discount is a new low for the 65-inch model. Also at Best Buy.
Hisense U8N 4K TV (55-inch) for $728 at Amazon ($371 off): The U8N is the next step up from the U7N in Hisense's TV lineup, so it should provide better colors, contrast and brightness across the board. If you don't mind buying a smaller panel for around the same price, this is another new low. Also at Best Buy.
Backbone One (PlayStation Edition) for $60 at PlayStation Direct: The Backbone One is an comfy gamepad that snaps around your phone and lets you play mobile or cloud-based games without having to rely on touch controls. We've recommended it before. This deal on the PlayStation-themed version isn't an all-time low, but it's $10 to $20 less than the usual discounts we've seen over the past year. Sony's listing doesn't specify whether this is the first- or second-gen model the latter can fit a wider range of phones and cases but that shouldn't be a major hindrance if you use an older iPhone or Android device. Both the USB-C and Lightning variants are on sale.
Black Friday FAQs
When is Black Friday 2024?
Black Friday 2024 lands on November 29 this year.
When do Black Friday deals start?
We expect some Black Friday deals to start as early as November 1. Over the past few years, retailers have been kicking off the holiday shopping season earlier and earlier. This trend will continue in 2024, and youll likely find early Black Friday deals available online and in stores in the weeks before the actual shopping event.
When do Black Friday deals end?
Some Black Friday deals will end immediately on Saturday, November 30. But those will likely be few and far between. Along with starting deals earlier and earlier, retailers have also extended Black Friday deals past the day for a while now, too. In the tech space, weve seen many Black Friday deals in the past run through Cyber Monday.
Where are the best Black Friday deals?
There is no one place to buy all of the best Black Friday deals, but you can expect the big retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target to have many of the same Black Friday deals available both in the lead up and on the day itself. We also recommend checking direct-to-consumer sites like Apple, Samsung, Sonos and others to make sure youre getting the best deal before you cross things off your list.
Does Apple have Black Friday deals?
You typically will not find cash discounts on Apples website for Black Friday, though it has offered various gift card bundles during Black Friday in recent years. You may be able to find local Apple store discounts on accessories, but Apple isnt a retailer known for slashing prices on its products. However, you can find more traditional Apple Black Friday deals at other retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Best Buy.
Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-early-black-friday-2024-deals-we-could-find-from-amazon-best-buy-and-more-163039545.html?src=rss
Thousands of people took to the streets in Dublin to attend a Halloween parade that never came, according to reporting by The Independent. Why did they do such a thing? It was all due to an AI-generated ad that promoted the fake event.
The My Spirit Halloween website advertised the completely fabricated Macnas Halloween Parade, which was supposed to take place from 7PM to 9PM on the streets of Dublin. News of the parade quickly spread online, and it even received a news ranking on Google.
People waiting for a halloween parade. #DublinNo Gardai around, no official announcement, people waiting on the wrong side of the road...Someone did pull a big #hoax #Prank pic.twitter.com/zTQUShZrya Artur Martins (@arturmartins) October 31, 2024
So, yeah, thousands of people put on their Halloween costumes and stood on the street for a couple of hours, waiting for an event that would never happen. They even left room in the street for the parade to pass by. Thats thoughtful, but also a bit sad.
The situation forced Irelands police force to put out a message to urge would-be parade-goers to disperse safely. A spokesperson for the organization said that contrary to information being circulated online, no Halloween parade is scheduled to take place in Dublin city center this evening or tonight.
Please be advised that contrary to information being circulated online, no Halloween parade is scheduled to take place in Dublin City Centre this evening or tonight.All those gathered on OConnell Street in expectation of such a parade are asked to disperse safely.Thank you. pic.twitter.com/KmVPFKEZbP An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) October 31, 2024
Local city councilor Janice Boylan expressed disappointment over the whole situation.Everyone is trying to have a fun and safe Halloween. Having a parade to go to sounded really good, she said. I know an awful lot of people turned up. Its a terrible pity.
The My Spirit Halloween listing has been taken down, but there remains the question as to why it turned up in the first place. Its worth noting that this is a different entity from the popular seasonal retailer Spirit Halloween.
The My Spirit Halloween website looks to come from Pakistan and posts all kinds of AI-generated content like the ad that caused all of this trouble, according to Yahoo News. This particular post happened to get picked up by TikTok and Google, causing the rapid dissemination of the, literal, fake news.
Its pretty wild, right? An AI-generated post likely created in Pakistan caused thousands of actual people to take to the streets halfway across the globe. What is that curse again? Oh yeah. May you live in interesting times.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/an-ai-generated-ad-left-thousands-of-dubliners-waiting-for-a-halloween-parade-that-never-came-162550781.html?src=rss
Black Friday may be 28 days away, but with the shopping holiday unofficially ballooning to the entire month of November, you can already save big on one of our favorite smart home gadgets. Amazon (Blinks owner) has a bundle of eight Blink Outdoor 4 cameras on sale for $380 off. The security camera usually costs $99 for one, and the bundle typically costs $630. You can get eight today for a mere $250 or six for $180.
The Blink Outdoor 4 is only a little over a year old. Compared to its predecessor, the fourth-gen camera has a wider field of view (143 degrees, up from 110), sharper day and night image quality and improved motion detection. Despite its name, you can use it indoors, too.
If you pay for a Blink subscription, you also get person detection. It lets you set it up to only get notifications when an intruder is in your yard, not a squirrel or neighborhood cat. The plans cost $3 monthly or $30 annually for one device. If you get the higher Plus tier, which supports unlimited cameras, youll pay $10 monthly or $100 for a year. You can try the plan for 30 days before paying. But remember, the subscription is optional and only required for person detection and storing recorded videos in the cloud.
The Blink Outdoor 4 supports 1080p live view, infrared night vision and two-way audio. You can also control it with your voice if you have Alexa devices in your home. Blink estimates the camera will last for up to two years with its included AA lithium batteries.
Blink
If eight cameras are more than you need, you can also save on a bundle of six Blink Outdoor 4 cameras. Typically costing $480, the early Black Friday deal shaves off $300, leaving you only to pay $180.
Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/blink-multi-camera-systems-are-up-to-380-off-ahead-of-black-friday-161047669.html?src=rss
Theres a new Star Wars show coming out in just over a month. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew premieres on December 3 with two episodes on Disney+. The streamer just released a brand-new trailer to prove it.
For the uninitiated, this is a live action show set during the same time period as The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, or around ten years after the events of Return of the Jedi. We dont know too much about the plot, other than it involves some suburban kids finding a spaceship and going on an adventure.
If that reminds you of some classic flicks from the 1980s, you arent alone. The whole thing seems to be an homage to Steven Spielberg, Amblin and the vast array of kid-friendly adventures from that decade. People have been calling it Goonies in space, but a more modern reference would be Stranger Things in space.
The trailer also showcases one of the things Im personally most interested in with this show. Some of it is set in settled planets, likely core worlds such as Coruscant. There are suburban neighborhoods and schools. There are people going to work. We havent gotten many looks as to how regular people live in a galaxy far, far away. Thats my jam, right there.
The showrunners here are Jon Watts and Christopher Ford, who made the recent Spider-Man movies for the MCU. The cast is primarily composed of unknown kids, including an elephant alien who may or may not be related to Mos Espa band leader Max Rebo. However, Jude Law is in it. Hes likely playing a Jedi, though there could be a twist there.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-new-star-wars-skeleton-crew-trailer-is-heavy-on-spielberg-vibes-151150849.html?src=rss
If you own a Synology NAS drive, youll want to update your device as soon as possible. As first reported by Wired, a group of Dutch security researchers recently identified a zero-click vulnerability within the Synology Photos app. For the uninitiated, such bugs allow hackers to compromise a system without a user needing to click something first. To make matters worse, the app comes pre-installed and enabled by default on Synologys consumer line of Bee network storage devices. Its also a popular download among those who use the companys DiskStation systems.
Midnight Blue, the cybersecurity firm that discovered the vulnerability, estimates that millions of Synology users may be at risk. Although the company released a security patch to address the bug, its NAS devices do not automatically download updates. Its not trivial to find [the vulnerability] on your own, independently, Carlo Meijer, one of the researchers, told Wired. But it is pretty easy to figure out and connect the dots when the patch is actually released, and you reverse-engineer the patch.
According to Midnight Blue, the zero-click is found in a part of the Synology Photos app that does not require authentication. As a result, attackers can exploit the bug directly over the internet and without needing to bypass a gateway first. They can then gain root access and install malicious code on the compromised device. At that point, theres not much a malicious individual couldnt do, with the firm noting it would even be possible to turn the infected device into a botnet. The possibility a ransomware gang could target Synology devices isnt just theoretical either. Earlier this year, DiskStation users reported that they were the target of a ransomware attack.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/security-researchers-found-a-serious-zero-click-bug-in-synologys-photos-app-145147159.html?src=rss
Wireless food probes come in handy on the grill, allowing you to maneuver as needed without a maze of cables to navigate. In the case of Meater's recent products, these devices let you keep tabs on both food and ambient grill temperatures simultaneously. There's no doubting their utility, but often you need more than one to get the job done. Sometimes you need to cook steaks to different temperatures or accurately monitor the breast and thigh of your Thanksgiving turkey, for example. Meater already offers a four-probe option with the Pro XL, but it's $349.95, and might be overkill for some backyard cooks.
Today, the Traeger-owned company debuted the Meater Pro Duo, a dual-probe model that swaps Bluetooth for Wi-Fi to extend wireless range. The charger connects to your home network and then to Meater Cloud, which will allow you to monitor food and grill temps from anywhere on your phone. This dock also features its own battery (charges using USB-C), so you don't have to worry about swapping out batteries. As before, Meater says fully charged probes can last for up to 24 hours, which is more than enough for even the longest brisket cooks. If you do find yourself in a pinch, a five-minute charge will give you two hours of use.
Meater has once again opted for stainless steel probes, and both have six temperature sensors (five internal, one ambient). These components allow the probes to withstand searing temperatures up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. The company says the internal sensors work up to 221 degrees Fahrenheit and are accurate to half a degree. Similar to previous Meater models, the probes are waterproof, which means you can use them for deep frying and sous vide. But, more importantly, it also means they're dishwasher safe.
The Pro Duo probes send cooking data to Meater's app, which allows you to monitor progress on your phone. The software offers a number of cooking profiles based on the food you're preparing and a guided cooking system can walk you through every step of the process. There's also an estimator algorithm at work here, providing a calculation as to when your food will be ready (including rest time).
The Meater Pro Duo is available now for pre-order for $199.95 from the company's website. Shipments begin November 15.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/meaters-pro-duo-keeps-tabs-on-grill-temps-with-two-smart-probes-and-wi-fi-134530562.html?src=rss
The US presidential election is in its final stretch. Before election day on November 5, Engadget is looking at where the candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, stand on the most consequential tech issues of our day.
Broadband access in poorer and more rural communities has been a major campaign issue since 2008. Bridging the digital divide was a key component of Barack Obamas platform. And, while far from perfect, his administration did a lot of work to grow the nations fiber-optic infrastructure, free up wireless spectrum and expand access to subsidies for low-income families. While successive administrations have promised to continue the work of bringing high-speed internet to the most underserved communities, the results have been disappointing. Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have pledged to get Americans online, but political realities will make that goal difficult.
Kamala Harris
During the Biden administration, Harris has acted as a sort of unofficial broadband czar (similar to her other unofficial titles of AI czar and border czar). This means she is deeply involved with and expected to carry forward the current administrations policies. That could give her a chance to salvage some sort of positive legacy from what is currently a rather spotty track record for Biden on broadband.
Under President Biden, the White House secured roughly $90 billion to close the digital divide, $42.5 billion of that specifically for BEAD, the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. This gives states money to fund the planning and buildout of broadband infrastructure, whether that be running new fiber to rural areas, installing Wi-Fi in low-income apartment complexes or training workers for new careers in telecommunications. Unfortunately, BEAD has been hampered by numerous delays, and very little of the money has actually been doled out. Virginia only received initial approval for access to $1.48 billion in funding in late July, despite having been first to file a request in September of 2023.
There is plenty of blame to go around for the slow and messy rollout of BEAD, but conservatives have been able to successfully turn it into a weapon against Harris. Stringent requirements around environmental impact, labor practices and affordable access have made BEAD an easy target for Republicans who see regulation and bureaucracy as the enemy of freedom and economic growth.
The NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration), which administers BEAD, has found itself on the defensive, claiming the program is on track. Though, its unlikely any projects funded by BEAD will break ground until well into 2025 if not later.
As an outgrowth of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, BEAD is a key part of President Bidens (and by extension Vice President Harris) legacy. A focus for a Harris administration will likely be speeding up the distribution of BEAD funds and accelerating the groundbreaking on projects like fiberoptic and 5G infrastructure. But its unlikely there will be dramatic policy shifts under her leadership.
Donald Trump
Similar to President Biden, Donald Trump made grand promises about expanding access to broadband, especially for rural communities, but largely failed to deliver. Not only that, but Democrats managed to turn that failure into a campaign weapon against him in 2020.
Under Trump and Ajit Pai, the FCC launched the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, which promised $20.4 billion to expand rural broadband. However, it was merely a rebrand of an existing subsidy program established under Obama. The Trump administrations efforts beyond that were far more modest than those of the Biden or Obama eras, and included initiatives like investing $1.3 billion through the Agriculture Departments ReConnect Program.
Neither Trump nor the RNC have much to say about rural broadband or the digital divide this time around. That could suggest another term would again be defined by small-scale investments rather than large infrastructure programs. While the Trump campaign has tried to distance itself from Project 2025, the document was drafted by a number of people in Trumps orbit, including former staffers. So, its not a stretch to assume he might adopt some, if not many, of its policies.
That document focuses largely on what can be seen as one of the Trump administrations wins on the technology front: 5G. Project 2025 calls for freeing up additional spectrum for wireless broadband and streamlining the permitting process. It calls for the FCC to pursue an aggressive strategy for freeing up the airwaves and selling them to commercial interests. It also, unsurprisingly, calls for scaling back regulations regarding things like environmental impact and restrictions on building on federal lands in hopes of spurring the construction of more cell sites. It also wants to speed up the approval process for satellite providers, like StarLink, which it sees as vital to Americas economic and national security interests.
Project 2025 calls for these efforts to be consolidated as part of a national broadband strategy. It cites a Government Accountability Office report from 2022, which states there are over 100 programs administered by 15 agencies as evidence of mismanagement and a potential for waste.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/election-2024-what-will-the-candidates-do-about-the-digital-divide-133045561.html?src=rss
