Technologies

E3 May Not Include Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo This Year

None of the three console makers will have a formal presence on the show floor, IGN reports.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, better known as E3, is returning as an in-person event for the first time since 2019 this summer, but it’ll apparently do so without support from Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo. The companies behind PlayStation, Xbox and Switch are skipping the event and won’t have a presence on the showfloor, IGN reported Monday, citing multiple unnamed sources.

Both Nintendo and Sony pulled back from the show in years past, with neither holding dedicated press conferences any more — Nintendo stopped after the 2012 show (opting to hold digital only Nintendo Directs instead) and the last PlayStation one was in 2018.

It seems that Microsoft will hold its own Xbox showcase event in LA this summer as well.

E3 2023 is scheduled for June 13-16, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. It’ll be run by new organizer ReedPop, which is also responsible for PAX, Star Wars Celebration and New York Comic Con.

The gaming convention was canceled in 2020 and held as a digital event in 2021 due to the pandemic. It was meant to return in 2022, but ultimately got canceled so ESA could focus on the 2023 event.

Neither ReedPop, Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo responded to requests for comment.

Technologies

This New Smartwatch From Nothing’s CMF Brand is Enticingly Affordable

The Watch 3 Pro offers impressive fitness-tracking features for the price.

After spending hundreds of dollars on your personal tech (your phone, your laptop, your headphones), the idea of splashing out yet more money to add a smartwatch to your collection can start to rankle. But what if we told you this new, stylish smartwatch cost less than $100?

CMF, the sub-brand of London-based Nothing, which earlier this month launch its flagship Nothing Phone 3, announced the CMF Watch 3 Pro on Tuesday. Available to buy today from Nothing’s website for $99 (£99) in three different colors (dark gray, light gray and orange), the Watch 3 Pro looks like an affordable alternative to the best smartwatches on the market.

The Watch 3 Pro, which boasts a maximum 13 days of battery life, according to Nothing’s specs, is geared at people beginning their health and fitness journeys. Given the price, it’s impressive to see the watch pack a dual-band five-system GPS setup, which should provide signal stability and precision location tracking. A four-channel heart rate sensor should provide accurate readings while you’re working out, with 130 activity modes to choose from.

Following your workout, you’ll get AI-powered summaries that will break down your performance and give you recovery guidance. ChatGPT integration will allow you to ask questions on the go, while a built-in voice recorder with auto-transcription that can be used to capture notes and ideas.

As with all of Nothing and CMF’s products, the design of the Watch 3 Pro won’t be for everyone, but the slim bezels of the round watch face and the soft silicone bands do give them a more subtle look than many of the brand’s more distinctive devices. Plus, with over 120 options to personalize the watch face, it should be easy to put your own stamp on this affordable timepiece.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, July 22

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for July 22.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

I’m always pumped for a Star Wars reference in the Mini Crossword! You should figure out 4-Down pretty quickly if you’ve been following the more recent movie entries. Read on for help with today’s Mini Crossword. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Get ready for a vacation
Answer: PACK

5A clue: How you might feel after riding a roller coaster
Answer: DIZZY

6A clue: «All things being ___ …»
Answer: EQUAL

7A clue: Small donkey of the Southwest
Answer: BURRO

8A clue: Items shot from cannons at basketball games
Answer: TEES

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Spark, as curiosity
Answer: PIQUE

2D clue: Sky-blue hue
Answer: AZURE

3D clue: Government policy leaders
Answer: CZARS

4D clue: ___ Ren, villain in the «Star Wars» universe
Answer: KYLO

5D clue: What an i.o.u. represents
Answer: DEBT

Technologies

Yes, You Can Still Get Games for Less Than $50. These Are the Best I’ve Played

Video game prices are going up, but these titles cost less without sacrificing quality.

It’s no secret that video games are likely going to cost more in 2026. It’s already been confirmed that some AAA games, like The Outer Worlds 2, will be priced at $80 when they come out. It’s ironic that a game that satirizes corporate greed should be the first official title with a higher price, but here we are.

However, another trend has quietly emerged over the past few months: Many great AA games are being released for $50 or less. A lot of these titles are currently on sale, too, so you can pick them up even cheaper right now.

As an avid gamer, I’ve found a lot more affordable titles that are well worth your consideration. One is even the top contender for Game of the Year. And who knows, maybe one of them will end up being your new favorite game.