France’s Neoen SA has outlined plans to build a giant renewables complex in South Australia, including battery storage with up to nine times more capacity than the Tesla Inc. design at its nearby Hornsdale plant, which is billed as the world’s largest lithium-ion battery.
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With live streaming of events and occasions being the order of the day, social media platforms are coming up with various features to improve their live stream options.
Keeping in line with this idea, Instagram has now come up with three new updates related to ‘Live’ events.
Firstly, Instagram users can now go ‘Live’ for up to 4 hours — the time limit till date was 60 minutes.
Instagram has also announced that users will be able to save their live videos for 30 days before they delete.
Users can also see the ‘Live Now’ section in the IGTV app and using that they can discover more ‘Live videos’.
We want Instagram to be a place where everyone can follow their interests, reach audiences, engage with communities and build businesses. These updates are another step toward helping creators do that.October 27, 2020
Instagram is rolling out the changes based on users feedback. In the US, Live usage had jumped 70% over numbers from the pre-Covid times.
About the new tweaks, Instagram has been quoted as saying: “This could help people such as instructors (yoga, fitness, schoolteachers etc.) who had to pivot to virtual classes, budding musicians, artists, or activists hosting discussions with fellow peers engage with their audience with no interruption from a 60 min time limit.”
Instagram, to start off, positioned itself as a platform for short videos and clips. But increasing Instagram Live stream time means that it is readying itself for competition, and is also undergoing fundamental change. Instagram’s time limit is now on a par to the one offered by Facebook for live streams from mobile devices. (On desktops though, Facebook offers 8 hours of live streaming.)
Facebook, which owns Instagram, recently merged Instagram DMs and Facebook Messenger. It was done to bring Facebook Messenger’s features like reactions, chat colours, and watching videos in sync with another person to the Insta stable.
Facebook has also been attempting to encourage Instagram users to cross-post their own stories onto Facebook.
Pro 1
DACA and the DREAM Act are good for the US economy.
The Center for American Progress stated, “DACA has been unreservedly good for the U.S. economy” and that DACA recipients will “contribute $460.3 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product [GDP] over the next decade—economic growth that would be lost were DACA to be eliminated.” California, which has the most DACA recipients of any state, could see a $11.6 billion decline in GDP if DACA were ended. Texas, which had the second largest DACA population, stood to lose $6.3 billion.
If the Dream Act were passed, it would add $22.7 billion annually to the US GDP, and up to $400 billion over the next decade. Benjamin Harris, MBA, former Chief Economist and Economic Advisor to Vice President Biden, stated: “Individuals eligible for the DACA program tend to be higher-skilled than their ineligible counterparts, simply because the typical DACA-eligible immigrant arrived in the America at age six and was educated in the U.S. Put differently, sending DACA participants back to their home countries would be a waste of billions in human capital already invested in the young immigrants.”
Pro 2
Deporting Dreamers is inhumane and cruel.
Arriving at a median age of six years old, many Dreamers do not remember life in their birth countries, have not met family members in those countries, and do not speak the native language fluently. President Obama, responding to President Trump’s plan to end DACA, stated, “To target these young people is wrong… It is self-defeating – because they want to start new businesses, staff our labs, serve in our military, and otherwise contribute to the country we love. And it is cruel. What if our kid’s science teacher, or our friendly neighbor turns out to be a Dreamer? Where are we supposed to send her? To a country she doesn’t know or remember, with a language she may not even speak?”
Many DACA recipients are well-integrated into families, communities, schools, and workplaces throughout the country. Thiru Vignarajah, JD, former Deputy Attorney of Maryland, stated, “to deport immigrants raised in America since they were children for the supposed sins of their parents is the definition of cruel and unusual punishment — expelling a person to a country they do not know because of a decision they did not make is as spiteful as it is bizarre.”
Pro 3
DACA recipients are vital members of the American workforce and society.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said that 900 DACA recipients were serving in the US military and 20,000 were schoolteachers, including 190 Dreamers in the Teach for America program. The Association of American Medical Colleges said in October 2019 that the US health care system would be caught unprepared to fill the void left by deported Dreamers.
In Mar. 2020, lawyers for Dreamers seeking to uphold the program in the Supreme Court wrote, “Healthcare providers on the frontlines of our nation’s fight against COVID-19 rely significantly upon DACA recipients to perform essential work. Approximately 27,000 DACA recipients are healthcare workers—including nurses, dentists, pharmacists, physician assistants, home health aides, technicians, and other staff—and nearly 200 are medical students, residents, and physicians.”
Con 1
DACA and the Dream Act only encourage more illegal immigration.
Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) said that DACA “encouraged more illegal immigration and contributed to the surge of unaccompanied minors and families seeking to enter the U.S. illegally.” According to Karl Eschbach, PhD, DACA will increase the undocumented population because those who don’t qualify for DACA will stay in the hopes of qualifying eventually, and more people will immigrate assuming coverage by DACA or a similar program.
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) stated, “The Dream Act will only encourage more illegal immigration. One only needs to look at history to see how amnesty has played out in the past. The 1986 amnesty legislation legalized about three million illegal immigrants. But rather than put an end to illegal immigration, the amnesty only encouraged more.” The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) included the legalization of about three million undocumented immigrants. Following the act’s implementation, between 1990 and 2007, the population of unauthorized immigrants in the United States shot up to 500,000 per year, peaking at 12.2 million.
Con 2
Amnesty should not be given to law breakers.
A country fairly enforcing its own laws is not cruel.David Benkoff, MA, Senior Policy Analyst at The Daily Caller noted that Dreamers are “victims of their parents… [and] it’s stunningly callous and cruel that they would knowingly subject their own children to such risks.” Dreamers have already broken the law by crossing the border illegally and remaining in the country without documentation.The Center for Immigration Studies stated that many Dreamers also commit work-related crimes such as Social Security fraud, forgery, perjury on I-9 employment forms, and falsification of ID cards. Since 2012, 1,500 Dreamers have lost their DACA status because of gang involvement or other criminal activity. Dreamers are only disqualified if they are convicted of a crime, which according to Ronald W. Mortensen, PhD, means “Dreamer gang-bangers, Dreamer identity thieves, Dreamer sexual predators, Dreamers who haven’t paid income taxes, and Dreamers committing a wide range of other crimes all qualify for DACA status as long as they haven’t been convicted of their crimes.”
Con 3
DACA sets a bad precedent for letting presidents circumvent the legislative branch.
President Trump noted in his announcement to rescind DACA that President Obama knew he shouldn’t make immigration policy unilaterally, “and yet that is exactly what he did, making an end-run around Congress and violating the core tenets that sustain our Republic.” US Presidents shouldn’t be able to set legislative policy by executive orders; rather they should seek approval from Congress in accordance with the Constitution.Elizabeth Murrill, JD, Solicitor General of Louisiana, said, “No matter one’s views on the policy principles motivating DACA, we should all be able to agree that the executive cannot legislate by fiat… The core of DACA’s substantive unlawfulness is its grant of “lawful presence” to hundreds of thousands of aliens whom Congress has declared to be unlawfully present.”
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Protestors against DACA |
| What Are DACA and the Dream Act?
The DREAM Act would have implemented similar policies as DACA via legislation instead of a presidential memo. Many versions of the DREAM Act have been introduced by both parties and have failed to pass. An effort was introduced by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) on July 20, 2017. In order to qualify for DACA, the undocumented immigrants are required to meet certain criteria:
Enrollment in the program requires renewal every two years. Who Are Dreamers? California is home to the most DACA recipients (186,120), including 81,180 who live in the Los Angeles metro area. Texas has the second-most DREAMers (108,730), followed by Illinois (34,330). The average Dreamer is 21 to 25 years old (37.7%), a woman (53%), and not married (76.1%). A 2019 Marquette Law School poll found that 53% of US adults opposed ending DACA while 37% were in favor of terminating the program. A CNN poll in 2018 found that 84% of respondents believed DACA should continue, allowing Dreamers to remain in the country; 11% thought the program should be stopped and Dreamers should be subject to deportation; and 5% had no opinion. |
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Undocumented immigrant boys assemble for medical screenings at a Nogales processing center
Source: Dara Lind, “14 Facts That Help Explain America’s Child-Migrant Crisis,” vox.com, July 29, 2014 |
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Footnotes:
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Eos Energy Storage and energy equipment firm Holtec International are creating a joint venture to produce Eos’ next generation of large-scale zinc batteries.
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Enough with the Amazon Prime Day 2020 date delays and speculation. The official details have been announced by Amazon and its deals marathon will finally happen next month.
Prime Day 2020 deals begin on Tuesday, October 13 and extend into Wednesday, October 14, lasting a full 48 hours, according to the company. Like in past years, the sales will be exclusive to Prime customers, so you’ll need a membership, or at least the 30-day Amazon Prime free trial.
Amazon has also told TechRadar that “throughout Prime Day, members can shop with confidence that they’re getting low prices that won’t be beaten this year” – which means when it comes to the retailers own-brand devices, you won’t be seeing them plummet to a lower price during the Black Friday shopping period.
This Amazon Prime Day date has been a long time coming. Amazon’s mid-year deals usually happen in July, a way to tide us over until Black Friday and Cyber Monday every year.
Now, because of Covid-19 delays, all three of these shopping events will butt heads. That seems like a good thing for consumers eager to see price drops on AirPods, cheap laptops and 4K TVs.
Amazon Prime | Sign up for a 30-day free trial
Prime Day is less than 30 days away, so you can sign up for the free 30-day trial and cancel after you’ve got your deals locked in. Like past Prime Days, this sales event is exclusive to Prime members.View Deal
One of the key differences this year in the build up to Prime Day is a new initiative from Amazon to encourage buyers to spend with small businesses – and can see you get bigger discounts on Prime Day deals.
If you spend $10 / £10 at selected businesses, Amazon will credit you back that amount to use on Prime Day itself as way of supporting these smaller outlets.
It’s not all small business, and you’ll need to head to Amazon’s dedicated supporting small business page to find the qualifying products (it’s not easy to tell which are part of the scheme just browsing the site, as you’ll need to spot the little ‘support small businesses like this one’ banner at the top of the product listing) but if you’re in the market for things like pet supplies or electronics accessories already, this is an easy way to get a $10 / £10 voucher come Prime Day.
Amazon Prime Day 2020 will be very different from past Prime Days for a couple of reasons: the dates have shifted, new in-demand video game consoles are launching (namely PS5 and Xbox Series X), and people haven’t been to stores in large numbers in months.
Prime Day deals could help relieve in that pent up demand for online shopping with big discounts and, in turn for Amazon, lure more members into the Prime subscription service.
No coincidence on the timing, Amazon also just launched a new lineup of Amazon Echo and Ring products. The new Amazon Echo (2020) range is spherical, more powerful and (apparently, as we’ve not been able to try it in these Covid-facing times) will sound more impressive too.
The Kids Echo range features animal prints on top to make them more friendly to speak to, and the new Ring Dash Cam is set to be a big push this year.
Our prediction is that the new Fire TV Stick, and especially the new Fire TV Stick Lite, are going to be huge Amazon Prime Day deals this year.
Having just been launched, it would be odd if they get discounted already (although we can’t see a Prime Day where a Fire TV stick isn’t on sale for lower-than-RRP, so maybe it will) but as part of a bundle with other devices, we reckon this is going to be a big hitter.
In the US, Amazon is facing new competition from its biggest rival: Walmart has just launched something called Walmart Plus, which is aimed at competing with Prime, at least when it comes to speedy shipping and everyday item discounts.
We’d expect some other retailers and brands to be launching competing sales at the same time to gain some of the spending frenzy that usually accompanies Prime Day (remember, last year Amazon made more money in July on its own sale than it did throughout Black Friday, which shows the importance to this brand), and we’ll be keeping you up to date with what the competitors are doing.
Oh, and let’s not forget the strong rumors right now that the iPhone is set to launch on the same day – if you’re an Apple fan and still want to pick up a cheap Echo, Ring Video Doorbell Pro or improve your home Wi-Fi network, make sure that you get your deals delving done early.
Prime Day gives Amazon a way to launch deals earlier than its competitors, as October isn’t quite fitting for even the earliest Black Friday deals. In other words, it’s going to be one long deals season over at Amazon, starting on October 13.
Britannica Acquires Leading Non-Partisan Issue-Information Source ProCon.org
CHICAGO, May 29, 2020–The Britannica® Group today announced that it has acquired ProCon.org, the country’s leading source for information and research on all sides of the controversial issues of the day.
Serving more than 20 million online users each year, ProCon.org uses professional researchers and upholds rigorous editorial standards to explore more than 80 controversial issues, from gun control, immigration, and the Electoral College to vaping, mandatory school uniforms, and animal dissection as part of school experiments. Schools and teachers in all 50 U.S. states and 94 countries have used the site.
ProCon.org now becomes part of the Britannica product portfolio, and the company will maintain and expand its editorial content, which includes pages with well-researched pro and con arguments on major issues, lesson plans and other resources for teachers, and a collection of videos on critical thinking and a host of hotly debated topics. Britannica will continue serving students, teachers, and curious adults and to provide vital information to voters heading into the 2020 U.S. presidential and congressional elections.
The content at ProCon.org is freely available to the public and will remain so.
Britannica is committed to elevating better information in the digital universe and fighting knowledge dilution, according to Theodore Pappas, executive editor and chief development officer of Britannica and the new director of ProCon.org. Britannica has a host of initiatives, such as the company’s partnership with YouTube, aimed at fighting conspiracy theories and fake news. Taken together, they are making a substantial impact on the quality of the information environment. The ProCon.org acquisition is designed to fit seamlessly alongside these other programs.
“The ProCon format allows readers to get a balanced view of controversial topics, open their minds, cultivate empathy and hone their critical thinking,” said Pappas. “These skills are more important than ever today, in a world awash in questionable information and where sites with balanced views are difficult to find. ProCon.org will help us meet Britannica’s promise to ‘Save time. Learn more. Be Sure.’”
“I can’t think of anything more needed now, in an age of misinformation and intolerance for civil discourse, than critical thinking and a reasoned, balanced approach to understanding the controversial issues of the day, and that’s exactly what students and teachers alike have long found at ProCon.org. Britannica looks forward to furthering this worthy mission, in new and novel ways, for decades to come.”
“ProCon.org and its board of directors are thrilled that Encyclopaedia Britannica will be leading our organization well into the future,” said Steven Markoff, interim CEO and founder of ProCon.org. “Given Britannica’s incredible history of producing high-quality, nonpolitical, unbiased information for the world, and its technical expertise in the digital space, the 200 million readers and thousands of teachers who have relied on ProCon’s work for the past 15 years have much to look forward to with Britannica at its helm.”
About ProCon.org
ProCon.org was founded in 2004 as a nonprofit charity in California, headquartered in Santa Monica. ProCon.org is the country’s leading source for pro, con, and related research on controversial issues. Its mission is to promote critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship by presenting controversial issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan, and primarily pro-con format. By presenting issues in this way, it aims to improve student performance, increase civic engagement, strengthen personal resiliency, bridge political divides, and stimulate critical thinking – the #1 skill sought by employers and educators.
About the Britannica Group
The Britannica Group is a global knowledge leader. Its famed encyclopedia has been published since 1768, and Britannica has been a pioneer in digital learning since the 1980s. The company today serves the needs of students, lifelong learners, and professionals by providing curriculum products, language-study courses, digital encyclopedias, and professional readiness training through its extensive products.
The company has continued to pioneer and redefine information discovery within the technology and education fields, serving 156 countries and 150 million students worldwide in 16 languages. The company’s mission to inspire curiosity and the joy of learning has earned it the ranking of the #1 company to watch in the EdTech Digest ’s State of the EdTech report for 2019-2020. It is headquartered in Chicago.
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Contact
Tom Panelas
The Britannica Group
312-347-7309
tpanelas@eb.com
It’s a fantastic time to find cheap TVs with deals from top online retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Dell. You can discover record-low prices on some of the best TVs of 2020 from top brands like Samsung, Sony, LG, and more. There’s a rich range of features and prices, so there’s something for everyone’s needs and budgets.
To help guide you, we’ve rounded up the best TV deals we think are worthy of your time. You’ll find massive discounts on 4K TVs in different sizes and prices. You’ll also find savings on TVs that are powered by streaming services like the Fire TV and Roku experience which are fantastic ways to enjoy a huge range of optional streaming services.
To make things easier for you, our selection of cheap 4K TV deals has been split into different size categories and we’ve also picked a standout model from all the TV sales for our Deal of the Week prize too.
We’ll continue to update this page with new deals as we find them in the latest TV sales, so you can spend less time shopping, confident that you’re going to find the best TV prices on this one page. If you’re looking for the best deals in the UK, we’ve got you covered there too.
Samsung 8-Series 50-inch UHD HDR 4K TV: $429.99 $399.99 at Best Buy
A fantastic price for feature-packed mid-size TV, you can get the Samsung 50-inch TV on sale for $399.99. The 4K TV features smart capabilities and works with the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for voice control.
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Insignia 32-inch LED HD TV: $149.99 $94.99 at Best Buy
If you’re working with a small space and budget, then you should check out this Insignia 32-inch TV that’s on sale for just $94.99 at Best Buy.
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Toshiba 32-inch Smart HD Fire TV: $179.99 $139.99 at Best Buy
Best Buy has the 32-inch HD TV on sale for $139.99. The smart TV includes a voice remote with Alexa and has the Fire TV experience built in so you can stream content directly from the home screen of your TV.
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LG 49-inch 4K UHD LED Smart TV: $269.99 $249.99 at Best Buy
You can get the LG 49-inch smart TV on sale for $249.99 at Best Buy. The UHD TV features smart capabilities and works with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant for voice control.
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TCL 43-inch 4-Series 4K Ultra HD Smart Roku TV: $329.99 $268 at Amazon
Amazon has the TCL 43-inch 4K TV on sale at for $268. The smart TV has the Roku experience built-in so you can stream your favorite content from apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, and more.
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Sony 49-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart TV: $749.99 $599.99 at Best Buy
Save $150 on the feature-packed Sony 49-inch 4K TV. The Ultra HD TV features smart capabilities and works with the Google Assistant so you can use your voice to control the TV.
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Insignia 50-inch 4K Smart Fire TV: $349.99 $299.99 at Best Buy
You can get the Insignia 50-inch 4K TV on sale for $299.99 at Best Buy. The mid-size 4K TV has the Fire TV experience built in and works with Amazon Alexa for hands-free control.
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Samsung 50-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart TV: $429.99 $329.99 at Best Buy
A fantastic deal, you can get the Samsung 50-inch 4K TV on sale for just $330 at Best Buy. The 4K TV features smart capabilities and delivers a bold, bright picture thanks to the PurColor technology.
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Samsung 8-Series 50-inch UHD HDR 4K TV: $429.99 $399.99 at Best Buy
A fantastic price for feature-packed mid-size TV, you can get the Samsung 50-inch TV on sale for $399.99. The 4K TV features smart capabilities and works with the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for voice control.
View Deal
LG 55-inch UN7000 Series 4K UHD Smart TV: $499.99 $479.99 at Best Buy
You can snag a $20 discount on the LG UN7000 Series TV at Best Buy. The smart TV works with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant and features ThinQ AI technology which allows your TV to become a smart home hub.
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Sony 55-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart TV: $998 $749.99 at Dell
Get the feature-packed Sony 49-inch 4K TV on sale for $749.99 and receive a $150 Dell PROMO eGift Card. The Ultra HD TV features smart capabilities and works with the Google Assistant so you can use your voice to control the TV.
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Samsung 65-inch 7-Series 4K Ultra HD Smart TV: $549.99 $529.99 at Best Buy
Get the Samsung 65-inch 4K smart TV on sale for $529.99 at Best Buy. The 7-Series TV features a universal guide that allows you to find streaming content and live TV shows from the home screen of your TV.
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TCL 65-inch 6-Series 4K QLED Roku Smart TV: $1,099.99 $749.99 at Amazon
Amazon has the feature-packed TCL 65-inch 4K TV on sale for $749.99. The QLED TV has the Roku experience built in and features Dolby Vision HDR imaging that results in bold, bright images and sharp contrasts.
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Sony 65-inch X900F Series 4K Ultra HD TV: $1,199.99 $999.99 at Best Buy
Save $200 on the top-rated Sony 65-inch 4K TV at Best Buy. The X900F Series TV delivers a premium picture experience and works with the Google Assistant for voice control.
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Sony 75-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart TV: $1,798 $1,398 at Dell
Get the feature-packed Sony 75-inch 4K TV on sale for $1,398 at Dell. The Ultra HD TV features smart capabilities and works with the Google Assistant so you can use your voice to control the TV.
View Deal
Samsung Flat 65-Inch QLED 4K Q70 Series Smart TV: $2,197.99 $1,666.77 at Amazon
Save a whopping $500+ on the Samsung 65-inch QLED Smart 4K TV. The QLED Series TV offers a premium picture experience with bold colors and sharp contrasts powered by Quantum Dots.
View Deal
Not found the right cheap TV for you today? Or maybe you’d prefer to directly browse the TVs at your favorite retailers instead of our highlights of the best TV deals? We’re updating this page on a regular basis, so you may have better look another day. If you want to take a look for yourself now though, here are the direct links to the full collection of TV sales at multiple stores.
Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc. announces that the 290-MW Nam Ngiep 1 hydropower plant has begun commercial operations.
PS4 Pro bundle deals are a hot commodity this week, especially in the US where we’re all waiting for stocks to replenish, although you can still pick up a standalone for $399. We’re keeping a sharp lookout on the listings daily however, and we’ll be the first to let you know about any new PS4 Pro deals that crop up. If you’re visiting from the UK then we’ve got better news for you as there are several good PS4 Pro bundles to choose from, including a preorder on the brand new Last of Us II bundle at Amazon for £349.
With the PS5 launch nearing closer and closer, now’s actually a great time to grab yourself a cheap PS4 Pro as prices remain fairly low even with stock issues. In addition to the vast array of existing titles in the PS4 library, you’ll also likely have access to a whole new range of PlayStation exclusives really soon – and for cheap.
So, keep this page bookmarked to stay informed of the latest PS4 Pro bundles. If you’re looking for more information on the PS4 Pro, take a look at our handy Q&A below the deals. We’re also keeping an eye on future PS5 pre-orders if you’re hunting next-gen deals. Looking to buy in Australia? You’ll want to take a look at our AU page.
If you’d prefer a standard PS4, then check out our PS4 bundles (USA) or PS4 deals (UK) pages. Don’t forget to top up your subscription with one of our discounted PlayStation Plus deals too.
Today’s best PS4 Pro deals
Sony PlayStation 4 Pro…
PlayStation 4 Pro 1TB Console…
PlayStation 4 Pro 1TB Console
The PS4 Pro price sits at $399 MSRP in the US and £349 in the UK. That means if you spot a deal above these price points, it’s likely not going to be worth your cash unless it’s good some hefty goodies included.
PS4 Pro bundles are in short supply right now in the US, with nearly all of the big retailers being sold out currently. However, over the years we’ve developed an eye for cheap PS4 Pro prices and there are still a few PS4 Pro deals to be had if you know where to look.
PS4 Pro 1TB | The Last of Us Part II bundle | £349.99 at Amazon
Amazon is currently taking preorders on the next big release bundle, including the hotly anticipated The Last of Us 2. This one’s not for kids, as Ellie’s back for vengeance this time, and it’s sure to be a bloody one. The real highlight of this bundle has to be the custom etched tattoo design on the PS4 and it’s included controller, something that sets it apart from the average PS4 Pro bundle.
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PS4 Pro 1TB | Death Stranding bundle | £349 at Currys
Released to critical acclaim in 2019, Death Stranding is certainly one surreal action experience you won’t want to miss. Currys have just restocked on this excellent PS4 Pro bundles this week, so it’s a great time to pick one up right now. This PS4 bundle is also available at Very for the same price.
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PS4 Pro 1TB | God of War Bundle| £349 at Currys
Another fantastic PS4 Pro bundle from Currys, and your chance to pick up a fan favourite and instant classic. God of War is a good choice for those of you who love a real hack and slash, a gorgeous world to explore, and the odd occasional family drama thrown in for good measure.
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PS4 Pro 1TB | GTAV + The Last of Us | £349 at AO
This GTA V + The Last of Us bundle at AO is a great option if you haven’t dipped into the cast back catalog of great PS4 games yet. Both these games are oldies but goodies and real classics in our eyes, making this the perfect bang for the buck PS4 bundle.
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PS4 Pro 1TB | Spider-Man + Lego Movie 2 | £349 at AO
Make the most of that 4K console with the visually stunning Marvel’s Spider-Man. By itself it’s a little old, so AO has sweetened the deal by throwing in a free copy of Lego Movie 2. If you’re after some spidey web-slinging, you’ll want to check out this saving with AO.
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Need an extra controller on the cheap? Take a look at the best DualShock 4 deals. We also have a guide to the best PlayStation VR deals too.
Looking for something to pair your new PS4 Pro deal with? We’ve collected all the best prices on the latest and greatest PS4 exclusives right here.
Today’s best PS4 game deals
God of War The Hydra Battle -…
Bloodborne – PlayStation Hits…
Marvel’s Spider-Man (PS4)
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End -…
PS4 THE LAST OF US REMASTERED…
Resident Evil 2 – PlayStation…
If you were looking to add extra functionality to your PS4 controller, this DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment from Sony offers just that. The small device slips onto the back of your controller and provides two extra mappable buttons to play with. While it’s brand new to market, it’s so far been incredibly popular, so you might have to keep an eye out for stock to return, especially in the US. The best prices will be listed right here as soon as this device does hit shelves again, so be sure to check back soon if there’s none available right now.
If you’re buying a PS4 Pro, you’ll probably need a cheap PlayStation Plus deal too. PlayStation Plus (aka PS Plus or PS+) allows you to play PS4 games online, along with access to the Instant Game Collection, a bunch of free games for your PS4 each month. The default price for a year is now £49.99. We’ve shopped around for you though and found a range of prices. So check out our guide of you want the best PlayStation Plus deals.
Essentially, the PS4 Pro is an upgrade of the PS4, rather than a ‘next-gen’ console. The keywords to take in from the PS4 Pro are 4K and HDR. The new machine will allow game developers to include 4K options in their games, so expect the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War, Uncharted 4, Spider-Man, Days Gone, Horizon: Zero Dawn and more to look even better on a 4K TV.
HDR, or High Dynamic Range, is the other buzzword to be excited about as the PS4 Pro will allow for extra detail to be seen on a range of games and also a wider range of colors not usually displayed by traditional HD TVs.
Absolutely. If you’re planning on upgrading to a PS4 Pro from an older PS4, all of your games will still work. Not every title will be patched to take advantage of the new 4K/HDR capabilities, but the default upscaling (if you have a 4K TV) will more than likely see some improvement to the visuals and the improved console power may give the frame-rate a boost on some titles.
The PS4 Pro is compatible with 4K and HDR, and the content options for both are increasing all the time on services like YouTube and Netflix. Amazon Prime Video is yet to be updated for 4K content on a PS4 Pro though, so you’ll need to check out the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K deals if you want to enjoy 4K Prime.
No. This was a surprise if we’re honest, especially as both the Xbox One S and Xbox One X consoles do. It’s a bit of a gamble for Sony, but at the same time, 4K Blu-rays are very expensive for now and many consumers look to digital services to provide their 4K movies and TV content instead.
No, the PS4 Pro will still work on a regular 1080p TV, you won’t get the benefits of upscaling or HDR though. You may see a slim amount of extra detail, or frame-rate boost, but we wouldn’t expect a massive leap.
If you are thinking of buying a 4K TV soon, then it’s probably a good idea to splash out on the PS4 Pro instead of the regular or new PS4 Slim as it’ll future proof you for a while. Be sure to look out for a TV that supports HDR too, in order to take full advantage of the PS4 Pro’s capabilities.
Yes, but only a little. The PlayStation VR frame-rate is better on PS4 Pro and the resolution gets a bit of a bump too. PlayStation VR will certainly work on the older PS4s too, you don’t need a PS4 Pro to get involved there.
Yes! The optical audio output has been removed from the PS4 Slim though, which is a massive shame. PS4 Pro owners though will still be able to use optical connections for their soundbars and sound systems.
We’ve dived through our back catalogue of PS4 games that have received a PS4 Pro update patch to see which ones look the best and have a noticeable difference. Take a look at our extensive feature – The best PS4 Pro games.
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| Pro 1 Homework improves student achievement. Studies show that homework improves student achievement in terms of improved grades, test results, and the likelihood to attend college. Research published in the High School Journal indicates that students who spent between 31 and 90 minutes each day on homework “scored about 40 points higher on the SAT-Mathematics subtest than their peers, who reported spending no time on homework each day, on average.” On both standardized tests and grades, students in classes that were assigned homework outperformed 69% of students who didn’t have homework. A majority of studies on homework’s impact – 64% in one meta-study and 72% in another – showed that take home assignments were effective at improving academic achievement. Research by the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) concluded that increased homework led to better GPAs and higher probability of college attendance for high school boys. In fact, boys who attended college did more than three hours of additional homework per week in high school. |
Con 1 Too much homework can be harmful. A poll of high school students in California found that 59% thought they had too much homework. 82% of respondents said that they were “often or always stressed by schoolwork.” Alfie Kohn, an education and parenting expert, said, “Kids should have a chance to just be kids and do things they enjoy, particularly after spending six hours a day in school. After all, we adults need time just to chill out; it’s absurd to insist that children must be engaged in constructive activities right up until their heads hit the pillow.” High-achieving high school students say too much homework leads to sleep deprivation and other health problems such as headaches, exhaustion, weight loss, and stomach problems. Excessive homework leads to cheating: 90% of middle school students and 67% of high school students admit to copying someone else’s homework, and 43% of college students engaged in “unauthorized collaboration” on out-of-class assignments. Even parents take shortcuts on homework: 43% of those surveyed admitted to having completed a child’s assignment for them. |
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| Pro 2 Homework helps to reinforce learning and develop good study habits and life skills. Everyone knows that practice makes perfect. Students typically retain only 50% of the information teachers provide in class, and they need to apply that information in order to truly learn it. Homework helps students to develop key skills that they’ll use throughout their lives, such as accountability, autonomy, discipline, time management, self-direction, critical thinking, and independent problem-solving. A study of elementary school students who were taught “strategies to organize and complete homework,” such as prioritizing homework activities, collecting study materials, note-taking, and following directions, showed increased grades and positive comments on report cards. Research by the City University of New York noted that “students who engage in self-regulatory processes while completing homework,” such as goal-setting, time management, and remaining focused, “are generally more motivated and are higher achievers than those who do not use these processes.” |
Con 2 Homework disadvantages low-income students. 41% of US kids live in low-income families, which are less likely to have access to the resources needed to complete homework, such as pens and paper, a computer, internet access, a quiet work space, and a parent at home to help. They are also more likely to have to work after school and on weekends, or look after younger siblings, leaving less time for homework. A study by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation found that 96.5% of students across the country said they needed to use the internet for class assignments outside of school, and nearly half reported there had been times they were unable to complete their homework due to lack of access to the internet or a computer, sometimes resulting in lower grades. Private tutoring is a more than $6 billion enterprise that further advantages students from wealthier families. A study published in the International Journal of Education and Social Science concluded that homework increases social inequality because it “potentially serves as a mechanism to further advantage those students who already experience some privilege in the school system while further disadvantaging those who may already be in a marginalized position.” |
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| Pro 3 Homework allows parents to be involved with their child’s learning. Thanks to take-home assignments, parents are able to track what their children are learning at school as well as their academic strengths and weaknesses. Data from a nationwide sample of elementary school students show that parental involvement in homework can improve class performance, especially among economically disadvantaged African-American and Hispanic students. Research from Johns Hopkins University found that an interactive homework process known as TIPS (Teachers Involve Parents in Schoolwork) improves student achievement: “Students in the TIPS group earned significantly higher report card grades after 18 weeks (1 TIPS assignment per week) than did non-TIPS students.” Homework can also help clue parents in to the existence of any learning disabilities their children may have, allowing them to get help and adjust learning strategies as needed. Duke University professor Harris Cooper, PhD, noted, “Two parents once told me they refused to believe their child had a learning disability until homework revealed it to them.” |
Con 3 There is a lack of evidence that homework helps younger children. An article published in the Review of Educational Research reported that “in elementary school, homework had no association with achievement gains” when measured by standardized tests results or grades. Fourth grade students who did no homework got roughly the same score on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) math exam as those who did 30 minutes of homework a night. Students who did 45 minutes or more of homework a night actually did worse. Temple University professor Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek, PhD, says that homework is not the most effective tool for young learners to apply new information: “They’re learning way more important skills when they’re not doing their homework.” An entire elementary school district in Florida enacted a policy that replaced traditional homework with 20 minutes of reading each night – and students get to pick their reading material. A study by the University of Michigan found that reading for pleasure – but not homework – was “strongly associated with higher scores on all achievement tests” for children up to 12 years old. |
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Discussion Questions – Things to Think About |
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