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๐Ÿคฏ Google Pixel 8's magic AI camera, ๐Ÿ˜ก Netflix price increase, ๐ŸŽฎ PlayStation Portal sells out

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๐Ÿคฏ Google Pixel 8's magic AI camera, ๐Ÿ˜ก Netflix price increase, ๐ŸŽฎ PlayStation Portal sells out

Read our 10 banner-ad-free tech headlines, and weekly ๐Ÿ‘ winners & ๐Ÿ‘Ž losers

Matt Swider
and
Adam Vjestica
Oct 5, 2023
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๐Ÿคฏ Google Pixel 8's magic AI camera, ๐Ÿ˜ก Netflix price increase, ๐ŸŽฎ PlayStation Portal sells out

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๐Ÿฆ Ask Matt Swider on Twitter or Instagram for hand-picked deals from Walmart / Best Buy / Amazon / B&H / Samsung / Google Pixel / GameStop / Xbox Game Pass / PlayStation+ / ๐Ÿ”ฅMicrosoft Office (PC) $32.97 / ๐Ÿ”ฅMS Office (Mac) $32.97

1. My Google Pixel 8 hands-on: Face Swap with this magic AI camera

๐Ÿค– ๐Ÿ‘ Winner: Ever say โ€œI hate how I look in photo 1. I love photo 2, but everyone else looks better in photo 1?โ€ Google has mind-blowing fix.

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
My best impression of the โ€˜Distracted Boyfriend memeโ€™. Pixel 8 Pro (left), iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. (Credit: Kevin Lee / The Shortcut)

I got a chance to try the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro early, and their AI camera wizardry is something I want in every smartphone. But itโ€™s exclusive to the new Pixel.

  • What can Googleโ€™s AI camera do?

Google Pixel 8 Pro camera Face Swap
โ€œBest Takeโ€ aka Face Swap on the Pixel 8 (Image credit: Google)
  • ๐Ÿคชโžก๏ธ๐Ÿ˜ƒ Face swap. Weโ€™ve all said it: โ€œI hate how I look in this group photo. My face looks better in this other shot where everyone else looks worse.โ€ You can mix & match heads for a โ€œBest Takeโ€ blend. Itโ€™s amazing how well it works.

    • Let me demonstrate using blinking, zany & eye-roll emojis

    • Photo 1: ๐Ÿ˜Œ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ™„

    • Photo 2: ๐Ÿ˜Œ๐Ÿคช๐Ÿ˜ƒ

    • Photo 3: ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿคช๐Ÿ™„

    • Outcome: ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ

  • ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ†š๐Ÿค– Appleโ€™s iPhone 15 doesnโ€™t have this feature โ€“ but it strikes me asโ€ฆ interesting. Google has an ad campaign dedicated to poking Apple for making iMessage features exclusive to iOS/macOS. Yet Googleโ€™s AI wizardry could be powered by Google Photos, but itโ€™s locked to the Pixel 8 series. I doubt Apple will dedicate an entire marketing budget to this issue.

For more face-swapping examples, check out my hands-on with the Pixel 8 โคต๏ธ

My hands-on Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro

Best Buy Google Pixel 8 deal

Best Buy Google Pixel 8 Pro deal

Best Buy Google Pixel Watch 2 deal

Newsletter continues below โคต๏ธ

Follow us on Google News

๐Ÿ“† Your Calendar

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ TODAY: Google Pixel 8, 8 Pro & Watch 2 pre-order

  • ๐Ÿฅท TODAY: Assassinโ€™s Creed Mirage PC/console release (order it)

  • ๐Ÿฅณ Oct 10, Tues: Amazon Prime Day October begins

  • ๐Ÿฅฝ Oct 10, Tues: Meta Quest 3 release date (pre-order it)

  • ๐ŸŽ๏ธ Oct 10, Tues: Forza Motorsport Xbox release date (pre-order it)

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Oct 10, Tues: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE & Buds FE release

  • ๐Ÿ“ท Oct 19, Thurs: Ring Stick Up Cam Pro release date

  • ๐Ÿ•ธ๏ธ Oct 20, Fri: Spider-Man 2 PS5 release date (pre-order it)

  • ๐Ÿ Oct 24, Tues: Metal Gear Solid Master Collection release (pre-order it)

  • ๐Ÿ†• Oct 25, Wed: Amazon Echo Show 8 release date

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑOct 26, Thurs: Samsung Galaxy S23 FE releases

  • ๐Ÿ”ฆ Oct 27, Fri: Alan Wake 2 release date (pre-order it)

  • ๐ŸงŸโ€โ™‚๏ธ Oct 30, Mon: Resident Evil Village (iOS) placeholder date

  • ๐ŸŽฎ Oct 31, Tues: Lenovo Legion Go release date (pre-order it)


2. Netflix will soon raise its prices โ€“ again

๐Ÿ“บ ๐Ÿ‘Ž Loser: As soon as the actorsโ€™ strike ends, YOU are expected to foot the bill

Netflix on a mobile phone
SOPA Images / Getty Images

Your Netflix subscriber is going to cost more in the US and Canada when the ongoing actorsโ€™ strike ends, according to the Wall Street Journal.

  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ Current monthly prices:

    • $6.99 Standard (with ads)

    • $15.49 Standard (ad-free)

    • $19.99 Premium

  • ๐Ÿ’ธ How much? New prices are unknown, but ad-free tiers will reportedly get a price increase after the ongoing Hollywood actorsโ€™ strike ends

  • ๐Ÿค” Didnโ€™t this just happen? Yes, in March 2022 (19 months ago)

  • ๐Ÿ”’ Let us not forget: Netflix password sharing now costs $7.99/mo extra

  • ๐Ÿฐ It gets worse: A Disney+ password-sharing crackdown is due in 2024


3. PlayStation Portal sells out ahead of the PS5 handheld's launch

๐ŸŽฎ ๐Ÿ‘ Winner: Sonyโ€™s pseudo portable PS5 is selling out already

Image credit: Sony PlayStation

It appears Sony may have another hit on its hands with the PlayStation Portal, despite valid criticism from vocal commentators. PS Portal lacks robust features, has a rather polarizing design and canโ€™t compare to the competition. But this PS5-and-Wi-Fi-tied handheld is resonating with enough gamers to sell out across various retailers. Itโ€™s completely sold out in Japan.

  • ๐Ÿ’ช Sonyโ€™s PlayStation Portal is off to a strong start

  • ๐Ÿ“† It launches November 15 and lets you play PS5 games via Remote Play

  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ It costs $199, the same price as a PS5 DualSense Edge controller

  • ๐Ÿ˜ฒ Initial pre-orders sold out at most US retailers, but keep trying daily:

Pre-order now from Best Buy

Pre-order now from GameStop

Pre-order now from Amazon

Pre-order now from PlayStation Direct

Why the PlayStation Portal is so popular


4. Appleโ€™s iPhone 15 Pro overheating issue gets a software fix

๐Ÿ”ฅ ๐Ÿ‘Ž Loser-turned-winner: Hereโ€™s what to do if your iPhoneโ€™s been feeling toasty

iPhone Pro Max credit: Apple

My iPhone 15 Pro Max review proved that Appleโ€™s four new phones are powerful. But some apps donโ€™t play nice. Apple conceded that they may run warmer than expected but a fix is already out.

  • ๐Ÿชฒ Apple said iOS 17 bugs and some third-party apps (like Instagram) caused its new phones to run hotter than they should

  • ๐Ÿ™ The new iOS 17.0.3 update fixes the issue without impacting performance

  • ๐Ÿ‘ Thereโ€™s no safety concerns to be worried about, according to Apple

  • ๐ŸงŸโ€โ™‚๏ธ Appleโ€™s A17 Pro chip is powerful enough to run console-quality games, like Resident Evil Village, which is expected to launch at the end of this month

Find out more


5. Amazon Prime Day October date and start time: when to get the best deals

๐Ÿฅณ ๐Ÿ‘ Winner: Prime Day discounts start Tuesday, October 10

Image credit: Amazon

Iโ€™ll be posting about the best Amazon Prime Day October deals next week โ€“ both on The Shortcut with Adam & Kevin and on my Twitter/X. Follow with notifications on.

  • ๐Ÿ“† Amazon Prime Day October takes place from October 10 to October 11

  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ Itโ€™s a great chance to save before Black Friday on November 29

  • ๐Ÿ‘€ Weโ€™re expecting to see similar discounts to Julyโ€™s Prime Day

  • ๐Ÿ‘‰ Youโ€™ll need to be a Prime member to take advantage of the deals

Get ready for Prime Day October


6. SteelSeriesโ€™ new microphones make streaming easier for everyone

๐ŸŽค ๐Ÿ‘ Winner: Itโ€™s a strong start for SteelSeries in the microphone space

Image credit: Kevin Lee / The Shortcut

SteelSeries has entered the microphone market, and its first mics are specifically designed for gamers who stream online. Named the Alias and Alias Pro, SteelSeriesโ€™ microphones have been made for broadcasting from the ground up. Combined with the companyโ€™s excellent Sonar software, the Alias mics could be a popular choice with gamers who already enjoy SteelSeriesโ€™ products.

  • ๐ŸŽค SteelSeries has launched two broadcast-focused microphones

  • ๐ŸŽฎ The Alias and Alias Pro should appeal to those who stream games online

  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ They cost $179 and $329, respectively

  • ๐Ÿ‘ Alias Pro comes with a Stream Deck-like base for onboard controls

Read more about SteelSeries' new mics

Buy the SteelSeries Alias

Buy the SteelSeries Alias Pro XLR


7. Samsungโ€™s new affordable S23 phone, S9 tablets and earbuds

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE phonesSamsung Galaxy S23 FE phonesSamsung Galaxy S23 FE phones
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE phones, Tab S9 Fe tablets and Buds FE earbuds (Image credit: Matt Swider / The Shortcut)

This month doesnโ€™t just belong to the Google Pixel 8 โ€“ Samsung is also launching new FE devices (FE stands for โ€˜Fan Editionโ€™) starting on Oct 10 (for its tablets & buds) and Oct 26 (its FE phone).

  • $599 Galaxy S23 FE phone ๐Ÿ†š $800 Galaxy S23

  • $99 Galaxy Buds FE ๐Ÿ†š $150 Galaxy Buds 2

  • $449 Galaxy Tab S9 FE ๐Ÿ†š $800 Galaxy Tab S9

  • *Galaxy Tab S9+ FE ๐Ÿ†š $999 Galaxy Tab S9+ (on sale)

These arenโ€™t the fastest or thinnest devices compared to the normal S23 series, but theyโ€™ll save you anywhere from $50 to $350 if youโ€™re on a budget.

*Thereโ€™s no Tab S9+ FE price yet; the two Tab S9 FE sizes are listed as โ€œstarting at $449.โ€

8. PS Plus free games for October are now available

๐Ÿ†“ ๐Ÿ‘ Winner: Itโ€™s time to add new games to your PS5 and PS4 library

Image credit: Sony PlayStation

PlayStation Plus Premium, Extra and Essential subscribers can now download Octoberโ€™s free PS Plus games. There are three PS5 games this month, including The Callisto Protocol, a spiritual successor to Dead Space which Adam thoroughly enjoyed. Remember, you only have until Monday, November 6, to grab these games, so add them to your library now.

  • Octoberโ€™s PS Plus free games are now available to subscribers

  • You can get The Callisto Protocol, Farming Simulator 22 and Weird West

  • Use our PlayStation Plus discount code to save

See every free PS Plus game so far

PS Plus discount code


9. Forza Motorsport review roundup: โ€˜slicker than ever, but a step backwardsโ€™

๐ŸŽ๏ธ ๐Ÿ‘ Winner: Reviews for Xboxโ€™s newest racing game are here

Image credit: Microsoft Xbox

Forza Motorsport is back after a six-year hiatus and it seems like a solid entry in the series. Forza Motorsport is currently sitting on an Opencritic score of 82 after 63 critic reviews with 89% recommending the game. If youโ€™d like to hit the track, the game is free to Xbox Game Pass subscribers and you can save with our Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 12 month discount code.

  • ๐Ÿ‘ Forza Motorsport has an Opencritic score of 82 after 63 critic reviews

  • ๐ŸŽ๏ธ 89% of critics would recommend the new Forza Motorsport

  • ๐Ÿ˜ฒ Itโ€™s been six years since the last Forza Motorsport game

  • ๐Ÿ“† The game is out on October 10 and is free with Xbox Game Pass

Read the Forza Motorsport reviews

Get an Xbox Game Pass discount code


10. HyperX Cloud 3 Wireless review: all-day comfort with phenomenal battery life

๐ŸŽง ๐Ÿ‘ Winner: Almost perfect, but thereโ€™s room for improvement

Image credit: Adam Vjestica / The Shortcut

A fantastic headset that nails the fundamentals, the HyperX Cloud 3 Wireless ticks almost every box gamers are looking for. With best-in-class battery life at 120 hours, youโ€™ll barely ever need to charge this headset, and itโ€™s extremely comfortable to wear for long periods. It also delivers excellent sound quality thatโ€™s balanced and clear, and comes with a fantastic detachable microphone. Read our full HyperX Cloud 3 Wireless review to see why we loved this headset.

  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Exceptional battery life for a wireless headset

  • ๐Ÿ˜ Incredibly comfortable and impressive sound

  • ๐Ÿ˜” We wish it had Bluetooth support

  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ It costs $169.99 and is available now

Read the full review


Subscriber bonus: Best DualSense Edge settings for Call of Duty Warzone

๐Ÿ”’ Paid subscribers: Sonyโ€™s DualSense Edge controller is perfectly suited to Call of Duty Warzone

Image credit: Activision / Sony PlayStation

Call of Duty Warzone and the DualSense Edge controller are a match made in heaven. If you want to raise your game and gain a competitive advantage, the DualSense Edge can help you win those one-on-one duels in the Gulag and ensure youโ€™re not fumbling about with the controls.

Read on for the best DualSense Edge settings for Call of Duty Warzone (and the upcoming Modern Warfare 3) if youโ€™d like to take your game to the next level.

Best settings for Call of Duty Warzone

We also have the best DualSense Edge settings for Hogwarts Legacy, Gran Turismo 7 and God of War Ragnarok with more to come:

Best settings for Hogwarts Legacy

Best settings for Gran Turismo 7

Best settings for God of War Ragnarok


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Thereโ€™s a lot more content on The Shortcut every day for FREE and PAID subscribers. Thank you for your feedback in the email replies โค๏ธ

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๐Ÿคฏ Google Pixel 8's magic AI camera, ๐Ÿ˜ก Netflix price increase, ๐ŸŽฎ PlayStation Portal sells out

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