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If youre at least in your mid-30s (give or take), you know the voice of Elwood Edwards, realize it or not. He recorded the phrase, Youve got mail! and three other lines for Quantum Computer Services in 1989. That company later rebranded to America Online, and the rest is early internet history. Edwards died on Tuesday. WKYC first reported (via Variety) that Edwards passed away one day before what would have been his 75th birthday. He was a longtime off-camera presence at the Cleveland TV station, working as a graphic designer, camera operator and jack-of-all-trades employee. His wife, Karen Edwards, worked at Quantum when she heard the companys then-CEO talking about needing a voice for the software that would soon bombard mailboxes across the US. So, she volunteered my voice, Edwards said in a 2012 video. And on a cassette deck in my living room, I recorded the phrases that youve come to know. He was paid a grand total of $200 for his voiceover work. The new-message catchphrase, recorded in Edwards calm and welcoming voice, became a cultural phenomenon in AOLs 90s and early 2000s heyday. Of course, that included inspiring the 1998 Nora Ephron rom-coms title. Edwards also contributed three (lesser known but still remembered by many) AOL sayings: Welcome, Files done and Goodbye. In the 2012 video, hes depicted getting hounded by various employees, prompting him to say the thing. (AOL is currently owned by Yahoo, Engadgets parent company.) So, thats the story behind the catchphrase, he said in the clip, which, well, I have a certain amount of trouble trying to escape. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-voice-of-aols-youve-got-mail-has-died-at-74-214247947.html?src=rss
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Its almost time again for Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ), the zany speedrun-fest for a good cause. The hook for this years event is a run of the Dreamcast classic Crazy Taxi with a live backing band. Funds raised from this years showcase will benefit the nonprofit Prevent Cancer Foundation. AGDQ 2025 runs from January 5 to 12 in Pittsburgh. The live instrumental band rocking out during a Crazy Taxi run sounds like a fun centerpiece. You can check out a preview in the video below, which showed the same band rocking out to a recorded run of the game at Summer Games Done Quick (SGDC) 2024. On Saturday, January 11 at 4:48PM ET, you can catch a fully live version. Other highlights on the agenda include a run of the instant PlayStation classic Astro Bot on Sunday, January 5 at 6:30PM ET, a speedrun of Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire for 3DS on January 11 at 8:18AM ET and a play-through of the Wii port of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the same day at 4PM ET. You can check out the full schedule for more. Last years AGDQ (also in Pittsburgh) raised $2.5 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Among its best bits were a no-hit run of Resident Evil 2 (2019), Super Mario 64 completed on an electric drum kit and a pup named Peanut Butter lending a paw to help his person beat the NES classic Gyromite. The Games Done Quick Organization has raised $51.8 million for various charities throughout its 15 years. You can stream AGDQ 2025 on Twitch. Or, if you want to attend live at the Wyndham Grand in downtown Pittsburgh, you can register now.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/awesome-games-done-quick-2025-will-include-crazy-taxi-with-a-live-backing-band-203426032.html?src=rss
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Theres a new portable gaming console in town, joining an ever-crowded field. The Ayaneo 3 is the manufacturers latest portable device, following last years Ayaneo 2S. This Windows-based handheld looks to be an improvement in nearly every major way over its predecessors. The Ayaneo 3 will be available in a few different versions. Purchasers can choose between two processors, an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 or Ryzen 7 8840U. The HX 370 is the more powerful option, offering an extraordinary handheld gaming experience with AI support. Its worth noting that the 8840U should still be able to run plenty of modern games, as the company says its a good choice for gamers who prefer classic powerful performance. Folks can also select between two display options. Theres a model with a serviceable 7-inch LCD screen and another with a 7-inch OLED. Portable devices really pop with OLED screens. Ayaneo Every model boasts a new back button design, to provide for a richer button combination experience. The company says the design has been ergonomically optimized so human fingers can easily reach those back buttons. Theres also a trigger lock feature, to offer enhanced control in both popular and retro games. Otherwise, the front-facing buttons and slanted joystick layout are familiar. The front-facing speakers have received a refresh here, with Ayaneo promising immersive audio beyond expectations. It says they were designed in deep collaboration with sound specialists and will offer low rumble and depth and clarity. Thats about all we know for now. Ayaneo says itll release more information soon, including new features and more control innovations. Theres no price yet and no release date.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-ayaneo-3-looks-to-be-an-improvement-in-nearly-every-way-193511618.html?src=rss
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