Blizzard announces Hearthstone Grandmasters with $500,000 up for grabs

Blizzard announced a new Hearthstone Grandmasters for 2019 with some serious cash on the line.

The new three-tiered Heartstone Masters program is well underway with ongoing qualifiers for the Masters Tour Las Vegas this June, but today organizers revealed the Hearthstone Grandmasters, billed as the pinnacle of Hearthstone esports. Everything is set to kick off on May 17, inviting 16 players each from Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific to compete.

Players from each region will be split into two divisions to battle it out for points and placements. Only the very best from the scene will be invited to join the Hearthstone Grandmasters. This season is going to be big, setting the top three players from each division against one another for the prize pool of $500,000 in the Global Finals at the end of the year.

You'll be able to catch all the action from the regular Masters program, as well as the Grandmasters on Twitch.

New Philadelphia esports arena

Comcast Spectator and investor The Cordish Companies are looking to build the largest esports complex in the West, as reported by Variety. The new $50 million esports arena is set to be constructed this summer near the existing Sports Complex in Philadelphia.

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Control runs at 4K resolution on Xbox One X

It should look pretty crisp on Xbox One X.

A few months ago, Remedy Entertainment showed a gameplay trailer of Control at the PlayStation E3 2018 event. The game uses the same engine as Quantum Break and is coming to Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4 in a few months. 505 Games confirmed that the title will be enhanced for Xbox One X, but didn't provide any further details until now. Control is expected to launch on August 27, priced at $60.

According to an Amazon listing for Control, the game supports "4K" and "HDR" on Xbox One X. Oddly enough, the Microsoft Store just says the game is Xbox One X Enhanced, but doesn't list any other details besides that.

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The Netgear Orbi Pro AC3000 Mesh Wi-Fi System 2-pack has hit its best price

The Netgear Orbi Pro AC3000 Mesh Wi-Fi System 2-pack typically sells for $500, but right now Amazon is selling it for $389.99. This deal brings the system down to its best price yet and beats the previous low by $10.

All The Wife Eyes

Netgear Orbi Pro AC3000 Mesh Wi-Fi System 2-Pack

If you need strong, seamless, easy-to-use Wi-Fi, look no further. For work or for play, this system has you covered.

$389.99 $499.99 $110 Off

See at Amazon

This tri-band system is designed with businesses in mind, though you could use it in your home if you were so inclined. It blankets a location in Wi-Fi, up to 5,000 square feet, and it's easy to use since it works with your existing Internet service. You can also separate traffic, like making one network for your employees and one network for guests. Each unit can handle up to 40 connections, meaning your speeds won't be compromised, even if you throw the party of the century.

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Add this LG 24-inch IPS monitor to your desk for just $99 today

Amazon usually sells the LG 24-Inch IPS Monitor (24MP48HQ-P) for $150, but today you can nab it for $99. That discount is the best in this item's history. The last significant price drop occurred back in August of 2018.

Deal-splay

LG 24-Inch IPS Monitor (24MP48HQ-P)

Nab the best price in history for this monitor, which features fun things like split screen modes and on-screen controls.

$99 $150 $50 Off

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This 24-inch full HD display has a 1920 x 1080 resolution and on-screen Control.OS compatibility if you're using Windows 10. There are custom presets and built-in 4-screen split mode as well. The monitor also features Reader Mode, which reduces blue light to help ease eye fatigue. Close to 80 customer reviews left this with an average of 4.2 out of 5 stars. While this isn't a top-of-the-line monitor with VESA mounts or built-in speakers, it'll get you by, and it's a fantastic deal at this price.

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Surface Book 2 with 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processor now available to order

The new quad-core Surface Book 2 13-inch entry level is now more powerful

While the chances of a Surface Book 3 announcement this spring seems unlikely, Microsoft does have a tiny update launching today.

The Surface Book 2 13-inch with the new quad-core Intel Core i5 processor is now available for purchase. The configuration has 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM for a price of $1,499. The older version, which only had a dual-core 7th Gen Intel Core i5 is still available but it is now discounted by $200 for $1,299 for the same configuration.

Evidence of a quad-core Intel Core i5 variant came forward at the beginning of March through Microsoft's own retail listings.

For reasons unknown, Microsoft launched the Surface Book 2 with only a dual-core Intel Core i5-7300U back in November 2017. The higher-end SKU with the Intel Core i7 did have the quad-core option making the distinction a bit odd.

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Optimize your Wi-Fi network for just $19 with NetSpot Home

Wi-Fi is such a crucial part of modern life that slow Wi-Fi is unacceptable. There's a lot of different factors that can contribute to slower Wi-Fi speeds in your home but figuring out what's causing the problem is harder to determine without the right tools at your disposable.

That's where Windows Central Digital Offers can help. They're offering a great deal on NetSpot Home for Windows, software that's designed to help you visualize your Wi-Fi network and determine any dead zones or issues plaguing your home Wi-Fi network. regularly sold for $68, for a limited time you can save 72% and pay just $19.

NetSpot Home is available for Windows or Mac and will help you optimize your wireless network at home, or even at the office. You'll be able to view maps that visualize the strength of your Wi-Fi using heat maps. The software also lets you run internet download and upload speeds and offers customization that any network administrators will really enjoy.

With this deal you get a lifetime license for NetSpot Home so you'll always be able to optimize your Wi-Fi networks wherever you go! Don't miss out on this deal to save 73% and pay just $19 for this valuable software

See at Windows Central Digital Offers

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Store your data on this discounted Toshiba Canvio 2TB portable hard drive

The Toshiba Canvio Advance 2TB portable hard drive is down to $51.99 on Amazon. That price is about $13 off what this hard drive normally goes for and a brand new low. The deal is only applicable to the white model. You can also get the 1TB version at a substantial discount today.

Take it with you

Toshiba Canvio Advance 3TB Portable Hard Drive

This portable hard drive looks as good as it performs. Keep in mind that the discount isn't around for long!

$51.99 $64.99 $13 Off

See at Amazon

This is a USB 3.0 hard drive with a sleek, compact design and a high-gloss finish. It's easy to use and requires no additional software — just plug it into your computer's USB port and you're good to go. The drive comes formatted for Windows computers and will work with Windows 7 and up. It can work with Mac as well but will need reformatting first.

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Upgrade your tech with 24% off the SanDisk 256GB Extreme MicroSD Card

The SanDisk 256GB Extreme MicroSD Card has fallen in price from $69 down to $52.99 at Amazon. This deal is good for one day only, so don't miss out if you're interested. We've never seen it drop lower in price before.

Small but mighty

SanDisk 256GB Extreme MicroSD Card

Whether you're adding storage to your phone or your tablet, your action camera or your console, good luck finding a better deal on a microSD card this rugged. The sale ends tonight, so don't miss out!

$52.99 $69 24% Off

See at Amazon

This well-rated microSD card features read speeds up to 160MB/s and write speeds up to 90MB/s. The card is thoroughly tested and built to withstand harsh conditions. You can easily store 256GB of your personal files, favorite movies, music, videos, and more on it. It comes with a full-sized SD card adapter, so you can use it in a laptop or digital camera with ease, and the card can easily record all of your adventures in stunning 4K without a problem.

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Razer Turret for Xbox One now available, here's our unboxing and hands-on

Early impressions of Razer's latest couch-gaming accessory made us very happy.

For those with an Xbox One, the dream of using a real gaming keyboard and mouse designed to be used with the console today is your day. The Razer Turret for Xbox One is now available direct from Razer and the Microsoft Store for $250.

We got our hands on an early edition of the exciting peripheral – the first to be officially licensed by Microsoft and the only keyboard with a dedicated Xbox key. Since this isn't a cheap accessory, we figured a proper old fashioned unboxing and demo of how it all works was in order (we'll have a full review in the coming weeks).

Razer Turret for Xbox One what it is

Announced at CES 2019 the Razer Turret for Xbox One is the first official keyboard that's built for couch gaming. Here's what we said back then:

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Sunday's top deals: Mr. Beams lights, storage gear, & more

It's been a long week, so why not treat yourself to one of these awesome deals? You deserve it.

Secured files

World Backup Day discounts

Having your data stored in the cloud is great, but can also be expensive, and if the company has a failure you risk losing it all. Keep local copies of your most important files for less with today's big sale.

Various Prices

See at Amazon

We've seen some random groupings of items in the past, but this one is a little weirder than usual, we'll admit. It's full of great products, though, from Belkin, Wemo, and Linksys. Whether you're looking to improve your Wi-Fi at home, or want to make your home a little smarter than it currently is, these deals make it far more affordable to do just that.

Once you've upgraded your home, it's time to check out the rest of today's deals.

Light it up

Mr. Beams Lighting Products

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Keep local copies of data for less with these World Backup Day discounts

Amazon is celebrating World Backup Day with big discounts on various storage products. Whether you're looking to add a microSD card to your Nintendo Switch or Android phone or want an external drive to keep your files safe, today's the best day to make the purchase. With gear on sale from popular brands like Kingston, Toshiba, WD, LaCie, and more, you're going to want to stop what you're doing and check out the sale.

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Illuminate dark spots at home with up to 40% off popular Mr. Beams lights

Today only, Amazon is offering up to 40% off a variety of Mr. Beams lighting gear, which brings pricing down to as low was just $12 for some of it. There are some lights designed for usage inside, and others that are able to be used outside, so if you're struggling with pesky dark areas at night, or want something where you can't easily run power, today's sale is for you.

See it better

Mr. Beams One Day Sale

If you're looking for high-quality lights to place inside your home or outside that will last for a long time and won't require expensive electrical lines be run to them, these are the ones to buy. There's a wide variety of options available today, so check them all out.

Save up to 40% today

See at Amazon

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Valve Index VR headset: Everything we know so far

Will the Valve Index be high-end or mid-range?

Valve has started to give us an idea of what its Virtual Reality (VR) headset is going to look like. Called Valve Index, it looks like a high-end headset to compete with other Steam VR headsets like the HTC Vive, and the Oculus Rift.

Right now, there is not a lot of information, so there will be a lot of guesswork in this article until we can replace it with hard facts.

What is the Valve Index?

The Valve Index is Valves first foray into the VR headset space and is set to compete against other high-end VR headsets on the Steam VR platform.

It looks to be the exact headset that Road to VR leaked several months ago with very little in the way of physical changes.

What will it work with?

As Valve, and Steam are primarily PC platforms, the likely hood is that the Index will be for PC only. We don't know yet whether the Index is a stand alone headset or a tethered one, so anything is possible, but Valve has made Steam VR the place to be for tethered headsets, so they will likely continue that trend.

What's hidden in the dark?

Utilizing our amazing Photoshop abilities — we turned the brightness up — we can see a little more details in the teaser picture Valve has given us on its website.

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Sega Genesis Mini goes up for preorder at GameStop for $80

Get one right now!

The day many of you have been waiting for is finally here, a Sega Genesis Mini Console is in the works, and it's launching on September 19. These devices are expected to sell out incredibly fast, so be sure to get your preorder in as soon as possible! The Sega Genesis Mini Console costs $80 and comes with 40 games.

According to Sega, "The iconic Sega Genesis console that defined a generation of gaming returns in a slick, miniaturized unit. The Sega Genesis Mini console... is plug-and-play ready right out of the box! Games will be announced in four waves of 10 games." So far, only the following titles have been revealed, and these alone justify the purchase of the console.

• Ecco the Dolphin
• Castlevania: Bloodlines
• Space Harrier 2
• Shining Force
• Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
• Toe Jam & Earl
• Comix Zone
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Altered Beast
• Gunstar Heroes

The console itself comes with quite a number of different items which are listed below. It's great to see that two controllers are included in the package.

• Sega Genesis Mini Console
• 2 wired controllers
• 40 games
• Power cable
• USB adapter
• HDMI cabled

Are you interested in purchasing the Sega Genesis Mini Console? Let us know.

Relive the good old days

Sega Genesis Mini Console

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Save a ton with PNY's 512GB Elite microSD card on sale for $110 today only

Save big money. Save big data.

The PNY Elite 512GB microSDXC card is down to $109.99 at Amazon today only. That makes for its lowest price in history; it normally sells for more than $225 on average, though it's recently been available for just under $200. The last deal we saw on it a month ago brought its price to $150, which was its lowest ever at that time.

This deal is part of a larger one-day sale on PNY storage products from flash drives to SD cards and more. You might find some other smart ways to save there as well.

Big savings

PNY Elite 512GB microSDXC card

This microSD card is packed with 512GB of storage space to save your most important files, and today's sale saves you nearly $120 off its average cost! You've only got a few more hours to get in on this deal though.

$109.99 $226.81 $117 off

See at Amazon

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This set of five refurb Netgear Arlo home security cameras is down to $280

Keep an eye on what happens inside and outside of your home from anywhere.

Today only, you can pick up a 5-pack of Netgear's Arlo security cameras for just $279.99 in refurbished condition at Woot. These are refurbished by the manufacturer and still come with a 90-day Netgear warranty, though if you prefer to buy them in new condition, you can do so for $344.80 at Amazon, which is about $30 lower than what they sell for on average. Refurbished, this set sells for around $320 there. Shipping at Woot is free for Amazon Prime members and $6 for everyone else.

Stay Secure

Netgear Arlo home security cameras

These Arlo security cameras were each refurbished back to 'Like New' condition directly by Netgear and are down to one of their lowest prices ever for just one day only.

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Make dumb appliances smarter with Wemo's Mini Smart Plug at over 20% off

These smart plugs are small enough to stay out of your way but can be super helpful to have around the house.

The Wemo Mini Smart Plug fits into any electrical outlet without obstructing others, allowing for two smart plugs to be placed into the same socket. Right now you can grab one for just $19.99 at Amazon, down from its average price of around $26. This is the best price we've seen on these plugs since the turn of the year and is just shy of the sale price over the holidays when it dropped to $18.70.

This deal is good for today only, as part of a larger one-day sale on Connected Living products by Belkin, Wemo, and Linksys at Amazon offering discounts of up to 50% off.

If you're the owner of an Echo Dot or another Amazon Echo device and have never purchased a smart home product before, you can use promo code SMART10 to snag this smart plug for only $10!

Smart buy

Wemo Mini Smart Plug

This compact smart plug lets you control anything plugged into it with your phone or tablet from anywhere in the world! If you're an Echo device owner, you may even be able to snag it for only $10 by using code SMART10 during checkout.

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Cover your home in Wi-Fi with $130 off this Linksys Velop Mesh System kit

This 3-pack is built to allow for 4K streaming, gaming, and more wherever you are in your home.

For just one day only, the Linksys Velop Home Mesh Wi-Fi System Bundle is down to $219.99 at Amazon as part of its Deals of the Day. This Dual/Tri-Band combo 3-pack regularly sells for up to $350 there and hadn't ever fallen lower than $300 at Amazon until this sale. Today's deal is the lowest this package has ever reached, but you don't have much time left to jump on it. We actually just saw a deal on it earlier this week at Best Buy which dropped its price to $269.99. That was a pretty great offer too, which shows just how rare today's sale is.

Boost Your Signal

Linksys Velop Home Mesh Wi-Fi System Bundle 3-Pack

Boosting your internet connection around your home with this Linksys Velop mesh networking system is easy. It can cover up to 5,000 square feet in wireless internet that's suitable for 4K streaming and more.

$219.99 $349.99 $130 off

See at Amazon

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Saturday's top deals: connected home accessories, VPN subscriptions, & more

It's been a long week, so why not treat yourself to one of these awesome deals? You deserve it.

For your life

Belkin, Wemo, Linksys connected living products

Today's big deal of the day at Amazon combines a whole bunch of different products into a single big sale that has the potential to save you up to 50%. From car mounts to mesh Wi-Fi systems, smart plugs, routers, and so much more, you'll want to check this out.

Up to 50% off

See at Amazon

We've seen some random groupings of items in the past, but this one is a little weirder than usual, we'll admit. It's full of great products, though, from Belkin, Wemo, and Linksys. Whether you're looking to improve your Wi-Fi at home, or want to make your home a little smarter than it currently is, these deals make it far more affordable to do just that.

Once you've upgraded your home, it's time to check out the rest of today's deals.

Extra storage

PNY storage products

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#WeekInMicrosoft No. 5: Edge with Chromium is looking really good so far

A lot can happen with Microsoft in a short period of time, so we started a new program on YouTube to give you a quick-fix news summary.

You can find links to the related stories below for more details.

The #WeekInMicrosoft episode No. 5

• Hackers used ASUS update software to add back doors to PCs worldwide
• Surface Hub 2 availability, pricing, and more expected on April 17
• Microsoft Surface Headphones get first quality-improvement firmware update
• First look at Xbox One S All-Digital box art; May 7, 2019, launch planned
• Hands-on with the new Phone Screen feature in Your Phone on Windows 10
• Hands on Edge with Chromium

And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest!

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Stay connected with up to 50% off select Belkin, Linksys, and Wemo products

Today's sale covers wireless routers, USB charging stations, and much more.

Today only, Amazon is taking up to 50% off Belkin, Linksys, and Wemo connected living solutions, including well-reviewed products like routers, smart plugs, gigabit switches, power banks, and more. This could be one of your best chances to grab these at a discount, too. This sale has a few random additions too, so you might be surprised at what you'll find.

The Wemo Mini Smart Plug is one product that's down to nearly its best price ever. Though it regularly sells for up to $35, today you can snag one for only $19.99 and start connecting what's plugged into it from anywhere in the world using an app on your phone.

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Valve Index VR headset teased for May reveal

More to come.

We've known for quite some time now that Valve has been making its own virtual reality (VR) headset. According to some reports, the team was working on its own device since before the Oculus Rift took off. Valve has also been publicly testing the controllers for this headset for two years now.

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Amazon's one-day sale on PNY storage products offers new low prices

Don't wait on these prices! The deals will be gone in a flash.

PNY storage products, from SD cards to flash drives and more, are on sale at Amazon for just one day only. Some of the items featured in today's sale are even at new low prices, so it's the perfect time to make your move if you're in need of a larger or more reliable storage solution for some of the devices you own, be it a computer, camera, Nintendo Switch, or your phone.

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