Microsoft has confirmed its third-quarter earnings for FY22, which ended on March 31, 2022, and it’s looking promising for Xbox Cloud Gaming . Speaking to investors, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, revealed the cloud streaming service has now been used by more than 10 million people worldwide.
Speaking further, Microsoft’s communications lead Frank Shaw shared a short message on Twitter , confirming: “With Xbox Cloud Gaming… more than 10 million people have streamed games to date, and we expanded the service to four new countries." That expansion was announced during Microsoft’s Tokyo Game Show 2021 stream, rolling the service out to Brazil, Japan, Australia, and Mexico.
Right now, Xbox Cloud Gaming is bundled as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate , meaning you can’t access it separately. Evidently, that’s not been a problem for many players and it also allows you to play Xbox Series X|S games through your Xbox One . All things considered, it’s no wonder Microsoft’s cloud service is gaining significant traction.
The success of Game Pass can’t be understated for Microsoft. Having recently hit 25 million subscribers , it’s widely considered to be the reason behind Sony’s recent PlayStation Plus revamp. Implementing a three-tiered system that’ll merge PlayStation Now into Plus starting next month, those who subscribe to the highest tier, PlayStation Plus Premium, will get access to cloud streaming.
More clouds in the sky
Cloud gaming is nothing new, though it’s not always been that successful. OnLive was an early attempt that never became profitable, quickly fading into obscurity. PlayStation Now was somewhat steady, though it’s about to get merged into the upcoming PlayStation Plus rebrand. Otherwise, more recent efforts like Google Stadia and Amazon Luna haven’t exactly set the world alight.
So, what has Microsoft done differently? Personally, I’d put it down to two elements. Software sells platforms and – without trying to sound like a salesman here – this is where I’d argue Microsoft has Google, Amazon, and Sony beat. The first is giving players choice in how they can access these games.
By bundling it with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, subscribers have access to over 350 games that have cloud versions, including Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, and Sea of Thieves, that’s a strong pitch. Even more so when you remember Microsoft puts its newest games on the service immediately once they’ve launched, and players can access cloud gaming on console, mobile, and through a browser. Many of the mobile versions also have touch controls.
The other part is that this isn’t just limited to the cloud-only. Sure, if you’re specifically after cloud-based gaming, that’ll naturally be the biggest selling point, but this is a minority of players. Many still want local download options on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. You get the games library and the curious can try out Xbox Cloud Gaming without solely committing to it. To me, the decision not to offer this as a standalone product was a smart call.
The best Samsung Galaxy Tab A deals in May 2022
The price of a Samsung Galaxy Tab A is already low, but you can usually grab it for even less thanks to regular Samsung Galaxy Tab A deals. While we usually see the lowest prices around big sales events, retailers often return to these record low costs throughout the year, so it's worth keeping an eye out.
It's important to say that although this is one of the cheap tablet deals , you won't be zipping through more demanding apps with the same kinds of speeds as more luxurious devices. However, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A offers up incredible value, especially for those just looking to catch up on some emails, stream Netflix or browse the web.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A range is one we can fully recommend as one of the top cheap tablets around as the performance and quality puts similar tablets to shame. Tablets aren't as popular as they once were, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab A tablets sit nicely in the middle between the much more expensive iPad deals , or the cheap Amazon Fire tablet deals , with the latter not supporting apps from the Google Play Store.
Today's best Samsung Galaxy Tab A deals
Eight inch tablets are the ideal size for those looking for a smaller device that can easily be pulled out during a commute, or for a cheaper kids tablet. The 8-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab A price is certainly attractive for light use, with the standard $149.99 / £149.99 cost offering up excellent value on a device that doesn't shy away from a few premium features.
You're getting a perfectly decent screen for streaming content, and dual speakers capable of pumping out Dolby Atmos audio as well. With fantastic battery life and a microSD card slot that can take up to 512GB of extra storage, this is a great option for those after a budget device that feels far more expensive.
If you fancy a larger version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A, check out the latest prices for the 10.1-inch version. If you're planning on watching more video content, then this could be the one for you as the bigger screen is great for films and TV shows.
It's not just a bigger tablet though, the screen resolution is improved over the smaller version and you're getting a bigger battery in here as well, which means even more power under the hood.
What is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A price?
The standard Samsung Galaxy Tab A price is $149.99 / £149.99 for the 8-inch model and $249 / £249 for the 10-inch version. The latter model does run a little expensive considering you're really only upgrading the screen size a little and picking up a slightly better battery. However, we rarely see those standard prices on the larger device anymore, and you're far more likely to find it for a much more fair $199 / £199 price tag.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A price worth it?
You won't find many tablets sitting under $150 these days, so the 8-inch model is certainly an outlier in the field. However, you're not skimping on specs to grab this particular model - as there's still some considerable power under the hood (and those Dolby Atmos speakers are certainly a surprise to many). If you're looking for a tablet for lighter browsing, checking your emails, and catching up on Netflix on the go, this is an ideal budget option.
The 10-inch does also offer an interesting proposition, but we wouldn't pay the full $249. You'll easily find Samsung Galaxy Tab A deals dropping this down to $199, which is an easy price to pay for a larger screen and boosted battery.
Want to check out the full Samsung range? We've rounded up every tablet still in production over on our guide to the cheapest Samsung tablet deals and sales . However, you'll find plenty more cheap Android tablets up for grabs right now, and if you're after something a little more premium you can also take a look at the latest Surface Go deals as well.
Fitbit Luxe 2: everything we know so far
Rumors of the Fitbit Luxe 2 have started to circulate, and we're rounding up all the news and hints about the next-generation fitness tracker right here.
The Fitbit Luxe is a fitness tracker with an elegant design that makes it look more like a piece of jewelry than a conventional activity band – and it makes a lot of sense. A fitness tracker works best when it's worn all day and night, and the Luxe is attractive enough for formal or casual occasions.
The Luxe 2 hasn't been officially announced yet, but we're keeping our ears to the ground for more news and will be keeping this page updated until the new watch is ready for your wrist.
Cut to the chase
News and rumors
The Fitbit Luxe 2 isn't yet confirmed, but in March 2022, the first rumors about the device began to circulate after references to three new devices appeared in the installation files for Fitbit's official Android app.
We don't know much about these new watches except for their codenames (Rhea, Hera, and Nyota) and their screen resolutions. Two are square, with the same resolution as the Fitbit Sense and Versa 3, suggesting that the Sense 2 and Versa 4 may be on the horizon. The third device, Nyota, has the same screen resolution as the Fitbit Luxe, which led to speculation that this may be the Luxe 2, but here at TechRadar we're not so sure.
The Fitbit Luxe only launched in 2021, so we'd be very surprised if Fitbit is planning to replace it already. We think it's more likely that Nyota is the Fitbit Inspire 3, with a new color OLED screen to replace the monochrome display of the Inspire 2. It would make sense for Fitbit to use the same display it does for the Luxe; it already has the supply chains and manufacturing processes in place, so the cost would be minimal.
Based on Fitbit's past upgrade schedules, we think the Luxe 2 is more likely to land in mid-2023, when the original device reaches its second birthday.
What we want to see
We can only speculate about the Luxe 2's features for now, but one that seems like a no-brainer is on-board GPS. The original Luxe is a superb little fitness tracker, but unlike the similarly sized Fitbit Charge 4 and 5, it needs a Bluetooth connection to your phone in order to track your pace and route on runs, walks and bike rides.
Adding a GPS module to the Fitbit Luxe 2 would make the new device a viable alternative to a running watch for casual athletes, and allow you to leave your phone at home if you prefer to exercise unencumbered.
If Fitbit could also add the stress-detecting EDA (electrodermal activity) sensor and ECG sensor from the Charge 5, so much the better. In fact, the Luxe 2 might even offer the passive ECG functionality that Fitbit recently had approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This would allow the watch to check for irregularities in your heartbeat at regular points throughout the day, without the need to activate the ECG app manually and sit holding the device's case while it conducts a scan.
Finally, we'd like to see a new bracelet design. The original Luxe was available with a silicone band or a chain-link strap by jewellery maker Gorjana, and the Luxe 2 would be an opportunity to show off something new.