The Morning After: 2021's other next-gen console launches

#Tech

Welcome to 2021! So many things are different this year, but one thing is the same -- a new year means it’s almost time for CES. While this year’s event is happening entirely online, we’re still planning on covering all of the news from start to finish.

While we get ready for the show, there’s still a few interesting stories to pore over, and for those kicking things off with a resolution, Valentina Palladino has suggestions on tech that can help keep you on track for the next twelve months.

-- Richard Lawler

2021 could be a great year for 'alternative' consoles

Next-gen isn’t gaming only about ray tracing and SSDs.

A bunch of weird and hopefully wonderful consoles are scheduled to come out next year. They won’t have the power to match the PS5 or Xbox Series X. None of them will have new launch titles from major publishers like Ubisoft, Capcom and EA, either.

Instead, they’ll be appealing to people who love retro classics and indie gems as much as the latest blockbuster. The sort that loves sifting through Itch.io and CRT TV listings on eBay. If you fall into that camp, read on for our shortlist of ‘alternative consoles’ due in 2021.
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The Engadget Podcast

Answering your questions on the PS5, foldable PCs and more!

For the last episode of 2020, Cherlynn and Devindra answer a slew of listener questions, covering everything from when to buy a PlayStation 5 to the future of folding PCs. We also look back at the best moments of covering tech throughout the year (which mostly involve this podcast). And of course, we can’t help but dream about what we’d like to see in 2021, when society (hopefully) shifts back into gear.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or Stitcher.
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Every NYC subway station now supports contactless payments

Happy New Year.

New York’s MTA has finished rolling out contactless payments across all the subway stations and bus lines in all five boroughs. The OMNY (One Metro New York) system allows riders to tap-and-pay for fares with smartphones, smartwatches and contactless credit and debit cards. For now, riders still have the option of using their MetroCards, but that won’t always be the case. MTA plans to completely replace MetroCards with OMNY in 2023.
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9 big deals on online courses to learn a new skill in 2021

Everything we know about Samsung's Galaxy S21 so far

2021's first flagships are coming soon -- here's what you need to know.

While we'd typically have to wait a little longer for the first major smartphone launch of the year, 2021 is already shaping up to be a little different. For whatever reason, Samsung is planning to unveil its latest flagship, the Galaxy S21, sooner than usual. Mobile editor Chris Velazco explains what we know so far.
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Two weeks with Apple Fitness+

A good way to start your fitness journey but not a long-term option (yet).

For $10 a month, Apple’s new fitness service offers a variety of exercise videos and promises that new ones will be added frequently. It’s not a new concept, of course — companies like Peloton, Daily Burn, Alo Yoga and ClassPass have been serving their members on-demand videos since before the pandemic.

But Apple’s service is tightly integrated with its smartwatch line, which displays metrics like duration, heart rate and progress on your wrist. And then there are the Apple Music hooks too. Reviews editor Cherlynn Low got a head start on her fitness goals for 2021 and spent two weeks with Fitness+. Here’s what she thought about it.
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