This means that those that haven’t upgraded to a next-gen system will soon be able to run around Hogwarts on their PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles. The Hogwarts Legacy Twitter account didn’t give additional detail for the Switch version, which is currently slated for July 25.
Warner Bros. Games didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
While Hogwarts Legacy has sold tremendously well on PS5, Xbox Series and PC, there are still many last-gen systems under people’s televisions. With 117 million PS4s and 51 million Xbox One systems in existence, it’s not too surprising WB Games is making the effort in producing a last-gen version of Hogwarts Legacy. Although, graphically the game will look its best on current gen consoles.
Additionally, Microsoft said new features will be coming to Mac users. This includes being able to “peek” at upcoming calendar events and connect a person’s Outlook profile to Apple Focus, a feature that allows people to customize their notifications.
Microsoft said it didn’t have an additional comment outside of the blog post.
Outlook is an email, calendar, note-taking and contact-management app that’s been around since 1997. It was primarily used as enterprise software, but Microsoft slowly opened it up to more mainstream audiences, folding in email messaging from MSN and live.com.
While Microsoft’s Windows operating system is a major competitor to Apple’s MacOS, both companies do create software for each other’s platforms. Microsoft’s enterprise software, like Word, Excel and PowerPoint, is available to Mac users. Apple’s iTunes is also present on Windows.
This story is part of Samsung Event, CNET’s collection of news, tips and advice around Samsung’s most popular products.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is now available, and if you’re looking to buy one, you’ll want to get a discount on it. We’re rounding up the top promotions on the new flagship devices with price cuts, gift card, bundles and boosted trade-in prices all available on the latest Samsung phones. And for people looking to save on the previous-gen devices following the S23 release, be sure to check out our roundup of the best Galaxy S22 deals.
Unveiled at the company’s Unpacked event earlier this month, Samsung’s refreshed Galaxy S lineup includes the Galaxy S23, S23 Plus and S23 Ultra. All three models retain the same screen sizes as the 2022 models at 6.1, 6.6 and 6.8 inches, respectively, with a refined external design and some modest upgrades to the camera hardware, battery sizes and internal storage of the larger two models. A special version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, optimized for the new Galaxy S23 lineup, powers the new phones, which the company claims should result in faster performance.
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Whether you want to be the first to get your hands on one of Samsung’s latest phones or maybe it’s just time to upgrade from an older phone, we’ll help you save some cash on your S23 purchase. Note that the below deals and bonuses are all limited in time and could change at a moment’s notice.
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How much does the Galaxy S23 cost?
The three models of the Galaxy S23 are available in various storage configurations. US pricing for each model starts at:
Samsung Galaxy S23: $800
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus: $1,000
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: $1,200
Note that Samsung has improved the base storage for the Galaxy S23 Plus and S23 Ultra, doubling it to 256GB instead of the 128GB found in the S22 models. The base-spec Galaxy S23 model remains at 128GB, however. Both the Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus offer 8GB of RAM, while the Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with 12GB of RAM.
What colors does the Galaxy S23 come in?
Samsung
As always, Samsung has clothed its latest phones in an attractive array of colors. This time, there’s a selection of nature-inspired colors including phantom black, cream, green and lavender. All three S23 phones are available in those four colors regardless of where you buy them from, though Samsung is also offering four colors exclusive to its own online store. Those colors are lime, graphite, sky blue and red.
Go straight to the source for your Galaxy S23 order and nab as much as $100 in free Samsung credit to spend on accessories. You’ll also gain access to Samsung’s online-exclusive colors. Better yet, if you’ve got an old phone to trade in, you can get as much as $800 toward your new unlocked device.
Samsung has some attractive carrier offers, too, with as much as $1,000 off with an eligible trade-in. Finally, many of these offers can be further enhanced for Rakuten members (up to 15% cash back) and for students, educators, first responders, government workers and/or military members, veterans and their families (see Samsung’s site for discount details).
Best Buy is offering a few ways to save on the S23 lineup at launch, including up to $600 off with an eligible trade-in and up to $100 back in the form of a Best Buy gift card. If you shop at Best Buy regularly, that’s as good as getting cash back. Various carrier deals are also available through Best Buy with up to $1,000 off with an eligible installment plan and trade-in.
Order an unlocked Galaxy S23 via Amazon and you’ll get an Amazon gift card to spend on future purchases. You’ll get $50 in Amazon credit with the regular Galaxy S23 or $100 if you go for the S23 Plus or S23 Ultra.
Verizon’s Galaxy S23 deal offers as much as $800 off with an eligible trade-in on an Unlimited plan, and the carrier is even accepting old or damaged phones. Switchers to Verizon will get a further $200 Verizon gift card, too. Other offers include a free Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G with purchase, though it’s worth noting these cellular-enabled devices each require a new line to be added, and 50% off Galaxy Buds 2 when bundled with your phone purchase.
Buy your Galaxy S23 device on a qualifying instalment agreement with AT&T and trade in your old device for up to $1,000 off. Better yet, to be eligible for that discount, the device you hand over can be a Galaxy S, Note, or Z series smartphone from any year, in any condition, or a phone from another brand so long as it’s worth $35. The discount will be applied via monthly bill credits over 36 months. Plus, you can get 50% off any Samsung accessory alongside your phone purchase.
New and existing customers can get the Samsung Galaxy S23 or S23 Plus for free (up to $1,000 off) when trading in on Magenta Max, or up to $800 off with a new line. The discount will be applied over 24 monthly bill credits. If you don’t go for Magenta Max, you can still score up to $500 off with an eligible trade-in or up to $400 off with a new line.
Grab the Samsung Galaxy S23, S23 Plus or S23 Ultra at Visible and score a free $200 virtual gift card when you port over your number. After you complete the first three months of service payments, you’ll receive a code to redeem for the credit at popular retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and Target.
Xfinity is offering new customers $500 off their Galaxy S23 when porting in a number on a new line on a 24-month plan. Existing customers can also nab the $500 discount when upgrading to the latest Samsung flagships, or get $800 off with a qualifying device trade-in.
Walmart is offering the Galaxy S23 series with various carrier deals. Phones activated on an eligible installment plant with AT&T or Verizon will benefit from a $250 discount plus up to $1,000 off (via bill credits) with an eligible trade-in. Walmart also has prepaid deals with Straight Talk and Total by Verizon offering six months of free service for new customers on an unlimited plan.
Get up to $600 off your Galaxy S23 device at Google Fi when you activate a full service plan and port in your number. The instant discount is applied at checkout, though your account will need to keep your service active for at least 120 days or the $600 will be charged to your account.
Hogwarts Legacy has officially launched, allowing wizarding fans the chance to enter their own magical fantasy. The open-world RPG is set in the Harry Potter universe, and it seems like the game that many fans of the books have long hoped for.
The new game from developer Avalanche Software lets playersexperience the famed school of witchcraft and wizardry as a student in the 1800s, before the events of the Harry Potter books. Here are some basic things to know about Hogwarts Legacy, including when you can snag a copy depending on your platform.
What’s the story?
Hogwarts Legacy players will “embark on a dangerous journey to uncover a hidden truth of the wizarding world,” according to the game’s website. You can explore Hogwarts Castle, where you attend classes. You can also go beyond it to new and familiar locations, per the website.
You can customize your character, choose a Hogwarts house and grow your magical abilities by brewing potions, mastering spells and taming beasts. Hogwarts Legacy sticks to the lore but doesn’t adapt the Harry Potter books and films.
What systems can I play Hogwarts Legacy on?
PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC versions of the game launched on Feb. 10. Those looking to play the PS4 and Xbox One versions will, unfortunately, need to wait until April 4.
Nintendo Switch users will have to hang on even longer, until July 25, to play Hogwarts Legacy.
The game was first announced in 2020, and its release dates have changed three times. It’s published by Warner Bros. Games under its Portkey Games label.
Is there early access?
The Deluxe Edition or Digital Deluxe Edition for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC included 72 hours of early access, starting Feb. 7.
The PS4 and Xbox One versions won’t have an early access period.
Where can I buy Hogwarts Legacy?
If you’re interested in the Standard Edition, you can buy the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions from stores, including GameStop, Amazon and Best Buy for $70 (about 57, AU$99). You can preorder the PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch versions from those stores for $60 (roughly 49, $AU85). The PC version is available for $60 at Steam and the Epic Games store.
You can view more ways to purchase Hogwarts Legacy (including how to buy the Deluxe Edition) on the game’s website. The Collector’s Edition has already sold out, but you may be able to find it online for a markup. The official site breaks down what comes with each edition.
What are critics saying?
The game has a Metacritic score of 84 on PS5. (The score is higher on Xbox Series X|S, and a bit lower on PC, but the PS5 score is based on the most reviews, 84.)
CNET critic Sean Keane played the PS5 version and writes in a positive review that “it captures the wonder of the early books, with an intriguing original narrative, engagingly varied gameplay and intricately designed world to explore.”
J.K. Rowling and Hogwarts Legacy
The game’s connection to Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has led her critics to call for a boycott, according to The Week. Over the past few years, Rowling has repeatedly made comments that mocked transgender individuals and infuriated trans advocates.
The Hogwarts Legacy website notes that Rowling isn’t involved in the creation of Hogwarts Legacy. But her writing is the foundation for the project and she still makes money off of sales.
Your iPhone already has thousands of emoji, but you’ll soon get even more. The first iOS 16.4 beta included 31 new iPhone emoji that beta testers could use, and as soon as iOS 16.4 releases to the public, others will be able to use, too.
The new emoji include a shaking-head smiley, animals like a donkey, moose and a goose, and additional heart colors, including plain pink and light blue. The plain pink heart has been a long-sought emoji, according to Emojipedia, which named it one of the site’s top emoji requests in 2015. Last year’s significant emoji drop in iOS 15.4 included a melting face, a biting lip and a pregnant man, with 37 new designs in total.
A moose, donkey and goose are some of the new emoji iPhone users might see soon.
Emojipedia
Emojipedia said the new emoji came from Unicode’s September 2022 recommendation list, Emoji 15.0.
There isn’t any word yet on when the new emoji will be available across iOS devices, and the designs of the new emoji might change between now and their final release on iOS.
Apple issued a handful of bug fixes and patches with the release of iOS 16.3.1 on Feb. 13, a few weeks after the release of new features in iOS 16.3 in January.
However, these top phones come with huge price tags that make them out of reach for many of us. Worry not. Even if you’ve got an older iPhone or Android phone or a budget-focused model without all the bells and whistles, there’s a lot you can do to still take beautiful images. After all, as any photographer will tell you, it’s not just the best camera that takes the best photos.
Still, you’ll need to put in some effort yourself to elevate your shots from simple “ho hum” snaps to “oh, wow!” pieces of art.
Here, then, are my top tips for how to get the best images from an older iPhone, Galaxy phone or any older Android phone.
In this shot, taken on the iPhone X, the road snaking its way into the frame helps to add a leading line that guides the eye up toward the cloudy mountains.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Nail your composition
You can take a photo using the most advanced camera system on the planet, but if you’ve messed up your framing, you’ll still get a bad photo. After all, if you’re taking a photo of a lovely church and you manage to chop off the spire, no amount of editing will bring it back.
Don’t just snap away wildly at your photo location. Instead, slow down, walk around and consider the scene in front of you and how you want it to appear in your shot. Taking a landscape shot? Look for leading lines such as pathways or old stone walls that snake their way into the scene. Or perhaps there’s some interesting rocks or flowers that could add some interest in the foreground.
Taken on the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus. I used the curving rock face as foreground interest, shooting through the gap that points toward the reservoir in the distance.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
You can also turn on a “rule of thirds” grid overlay in the settings to help line up the different elements in your scene in a visually pleasing way — or simply to help keep your horizons straight.
If you’ve got multiple rear cameras that offer a zoomed-in or wide-angle view, experiment with these different options. Maybe zooming in can help eliminate distracting elements, or perhaps that wider view can capture more of the beautiful scene in front of you.
With no wide-angle lens on the iPhone 11 Pro, I used the panorama mode to capture a much wider scene here.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
If you don’t have a wide-angle view, try using the panorama mode to get a wider shot than the standard camera can achieve — or use clip-on lenses, as I discuss below.
Tell a story
The most impactful, iconic images through the years aren’t simply the ones taken with the best camera, but the ones that tell a particular story or capture a moment in time. And sure, maybe you’re not trying to win a photojournalism prize on your summer vacation, but thinking like a photojournalist can help you take images that you’ll want to look back on in years to come.
Perhaps you’re heading to the beautiful Italian coast this year. Of course, you’ll get a nice snap of the ocean from your hotel terrace, but keep in mind what else has made your trip so memorable; the plates of delicious food, the old, dusty streets, the musician playing in the square or the vibrant colors of the fruits and flower stands at the local market. All these elements will make for great photos that capture the heart of the location and tell a great visual story when you look back through them.
This beautiful, shaggy Highland cow wasn’t the reason I visited Scotland, but this was a great opportunity to capture an image of an iconic animal. And the shot really adds to the story told by the images I took on that trip. Taken on the iPhone 11 Pro.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
And it doesn’t have to be something you do only on a big family vacation. A weekend walk downtown to the street-food market will offer up great storytelling opportunities, from the graffiti art you see along the way to the plates of vibrant cuisine you choose on arrival. And none of these things require the latest camera hardware to capture beautifully.
Use the light to your advantage
Though today’s top phones can take great nighttime images, older models likely won’t have night modes. As a result, darkness won’t be your friend when you’re trying to get great images. If you’re heading to a viewpoint overlooking the city, try to get there during the day, perhaps when there’s a lovely blue sky sprinkled with fluffy clouds.
Though the middle of the day isn’t always a great time for landscape photos, you might capture moments of peace like this. Taken on the iPhone X.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Middle-of-the-day photography is often avoided by landscape photographers because of its harsh quality, but if you’re exploring city streets, it can offer some great opportunities to look for contrast caused by shadows, which could make for dramatic images.
No multi-camera iPhone? Use clip-on lenses
Older iPhones might lack the multiple lenses found on the most recent models, but you don’t just have to make do. Companies like Moment and Olloclip make lenses that attach to your phone, providing wide-angle, telephoto and even macro views.
Using its standard lens (left) the iPhone X can only fit so much in frame. But with the Moment wide angle adapter (right) we get a much wider view.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Sure, you have to carry an extra little item in your bag or pocket as you explore, but adding a clip-on lens is a great way to get a superwide view for those sweeping cityscapes without having to splash the cash in upgrading your phone.
Shoot in DNG raw, even on old phones
Apple’s ProRaw image format, introduced on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, uses computational imaging techniques like HDR but still provides you with a DNG raw file that’s much easier to edit in apps like Adobe Lightroom. It isn’t a function found on older iPhones, but those of you on older phones can still shoot in regular raw if you’re keen to do your own edits.
You can’t shoot in DNG raw in the standard camera mode, so you’ll need to use a third-party camera app that offers raw shooting. I usually use Lightroom itself, as its camera shoots in raw and automatically imports the images into your library. But I’ve also had good results with the Moment app.
By shooting in DNG raw, I had even more flexibility in Adobe Lightroom to make this portrait of my sweet bundle of beautiful wonder look even more heartacheingly gorgeous.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Shooting in raw allows you more flexibility to adjust white balance and color tones while generally making it easier to tone down bright highlights or lighten up shadowy areas. Those of you looking to squeeze every ounce of quality from your phone camera should consider using raw — as long as you’re willing to spend the time editing.
Keep in mind, though, that raw files are larger than their JPEG counterparts, so you’ll quickly fill up your phone’s storage if you shoot everything you see in raw.
Get creative with editing apps
Taking your photo is only part of the process, and a keen eye in the editing stage can make all the difference in creating beautiful photographic art. If you want to maintain a more natural looking photograph, look toward apps like Lightroom or Google’s Snapseed. These raw image editors give you control over colors, exposure and contrast and let you fine-tune your images to suit your taste.
Edited in Prisma, the abstract art style means it doesn’t matter if the original image isn’t amazing quality.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Or you can take your creativity to a whole other level with apps like Prisma, which transforms your shots into often psychedelic-looking scenes, or Bazaart, which lets you easily create wild photo collages that can look really cool. You can check out my roundup of my favorite image editing apps for more inspiration.
The great thing with editing is that there’s no right or wrong way to do things, and you can always go back to your original image if you don’t like the changes you made. But using some of these techniques can turn an otherwise forgettable shot into something that really stands out. My advice is to make a cup of tea, settle into a comfy chair and play around with the sliders in your app of choice and see what you can come up with.
With the highly anticipated Super Mario Bros. movie hitting theaters in just a few weeks, it’s a great time to be a Nintendo fan. And if you want to get ready for the release by picking up some of the latest Mario games, we’ve got some deals you won’t want to miss. This Friday, March 10, is known as “Mario Day,” and Amazon has kicked off the celebration a little early by offering up to 40% off tons of the latest Mario games for the Switch. We expect these discounts to stick around until the weekend, and there’s a good chance we’ll see even more bargains pop up in the coming days. Many of these offers have also been matched at Target and GameStop.
It’s pretty rare to see first-party Nintendo games on sale, but there are almost a dozen different Mario titles you can pick up for less at this sale. If you’re after the classic side-scrolling experience, you can pick up New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe for $39, $21 off the usual price. There are tons of different playable characters, whether you’re gaming solo or with friends, including some that offer extra assistance and tips so even younger and less experienced players can get in on the action.
Or, if you’re looking for multiplayer mayhem, you can grab Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which is also on sale for $39. It supports up to four-person local multiplayer, and comes with 48 different courses for hours of competitive fun. And if you’re looking to take your racing off the screen, you can pick up the Mario set of Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit for $60, which saves you $40 compared to the usual price. This game comes with a real-life RC kart that you can control with your Nintendo Switch, plus gates so you can build a custom track around your home.
There are plenty of other games on sale, and there’s a good chance that Amazon, Target, GameStop and other retailers will be adding more deals as we get closer to Mario Day, so be sure to check our deals page throughout the week for even more bargains.
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Microsoft on Monday announced the launch of its Dynamics 365 Copilot, a new artificial intelligence tool meant to handle various business tasks.
“Dynamics 365 Copilot takes advantage of recent advancements in generative AI to automate these tedious tasks and unlock the full creativity of the workforce,” the company wrote.
According to Microsoft, Dynamics 365 Copilot can help write email responses to customers, draft answers to questions for both email and chat, and create an email summary of a Teams meeting in Outlook. The tool can also be used to easily make online product listings and to warn users about supply chain issues like weather.
These features are in preview in Dynamics 365 applications and Microsoft Viva Sales, according to Emily He, corporate vice president of business applications marketing.
This is not the first time Microsoft has used the term “copilot” in relation to its AI technology. When it announced in February that Bing was incorporating AI, the company said the search engine is now an “AI-powered co-pilot for the web.” This term implies the AI isn’t driving the search — or the business tasks Dynamics 365 Copilot will handle — the user is.
Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to create some personal finance explainers that are edited and fact-checked by our editors. For more, see this post.
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The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is one of the latest and greatest phones in Samsung’s lineup, and while there are plenty of Z Fold 4 deals you can take advantage of right now, most involve a lengthy carrier contract or require you to trade in a recent phone to save. If you prefer to own your phone outright, Amazon is offering a chance to get your hands on one of these sleek Samsung foldables at a near-20% discount. Right now, the online retailer is offering $350 off all configurations, dropping the 256GB model down to $1,450 and the 512GB model down to $1,570.
Powered by a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor and packing 12GB of RAM, the book-style foldable has been redesigned with a slimmer, more durable hinge and lighter overall weight than its predecessor.
There’s a 6.2-inch outer AMOLED display and a 7.6-inch inner AMOLED display, both of which offer a 120Hz refresh rate. One huge upgrade comes in the camera department, with an array that now includes a 50-megapixel main camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and 10-megapixel telephoto camera.
There’s no set expiration on this deal, so there’s no guaranteeing how long it will be available. However, deals on unlocked models of the latest phones rarely last for too long, so we’d recommend getting your order in as soon as you can if you’re hoping to snag a phone at this price.
If you prefer the look (and starting price) of the more compact Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, you can save on one of those at Amazon with unlocked models seeing $100 off there.
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Tablets are a great way to get anything computer-related done without the bulkiness a full-size laptop. Even if you just prefer to play games or read books on your tablet, the convenience and ease of use are enough to tempt anyone into investing in one.
We’re always on the lookout for deals on good tablets and right now, some of our favorite tablets for 2023 are on sale at Amazon. The online retailer is offering up to 40% off a huge selection of its Fire tablets, including some models that are designed specifically for kids. There’s no set expiration for these deals, so there’s no telling how long they’ll be available. We’d recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.
Prices start at just $60 at this sale, which saves you $40 on the latest Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet with an 8-inch HD display and 32GB of storage. The tablet comes in black, blue or pink. If you opt to expand the storage to 64GB, you can get it for $90 (save $40).
Along the same lines, you can grab the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus with 32GB of storage for $80 (save $30) or the Fire HD 8 Plus tablet with 64GB of storage for $100 (save $55). If you want a slightly bigger screen, there’s also the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablets with 1080p displays. The Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet with 32GB of storage will set you back $120 (save $30); the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus costs $140, saving you $40.
Amazon is also discounting the child-friendly version of its tablets, which come with a kid-proof case and a two-year guarantee against any breakages, plus a year of Amazon Kids Plus content. Prices start at $70 ($40 off) for the Fire 7 Kids, and range up to $160 ($40 off) for the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro, which is designed for older kids and teens.
You can also check out our roundup of all the best tablet deals out there for even more bargains.
Which tablets have the best price?
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