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Acer is continuing its admirable pattern of updates to its portfolio of niche products featuring glasses-free 3D displays. For CES 2024, that means a standalone 27-inch Predator gaming monitor and a 15-inch Aspire laptop — the lowest down the laptop food chain that Acer has brought its 3D tech to.

For Acer’s SpatialLabs technology, there’s a lenticular layer bonded to the screen to split a single image into two stereoscopic ones, which, in conjunction with eye tracking, lets you see 3D depth without using 3D glasses. Acer’s various software pieces take all that and massage games or creative software for an optimal experience. (Read my thoughts about it based on the Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs Edition I tested.)

Acer is gamely bringing the technology to gaming monitors with its Predator SpatialLabs View 27, a 27-inch 2D/3D-switchable 4K monitor that builds on the SpatialLabs View Pro 27 launched last year. In addition to Acer’s TrueGame software, which lets you tweak the 3D effect, the monitor comes with Immerse Audio, which uses the eye-tracking sensors to enable head tracking that in turn enables beam-forming sound, to simulate surround sound. How well that works remains to be determined, given that the monitor only has a pair of 2.5-watt speakers.

3D stereoscopic seems like more of a technical challenge for a standalone monitor than a laptop, though. The visual effect is very sensitive to distance, height and viewing angle, and there’s a lot more potential variety in positioning for a monitor than a laptop, which means your mileage may vary significantly compared to the laptop experience.

Creatives (the market for the older View Pro 27) may be more used to rigid placement requirements because perceptual color accuracy is sensitive to viewing angle, and the 3D display would generally be a secondary, rather than primary display, so you’re not stuck in a small range of head positions for long periods the way you are when gaming.

Though it works as a 2D monitor as well as a 3D one, if you’re primarily interested in 2D, the specs sound fairly lackluster given the intended $1,999 price. They include a 160Hz refresh rate, peak brightness of 400 nits (in other words, no HDR) and support for FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible adaptive refresh technologies.

It’s slated to ship by the end of June.

Acer is also expanding its 3D laptops downstream to the Aspire line. New for 2024, the 15-inch Aspire 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition (A3D15-71GM) is intended for creators on a midrange budget — it’ll start at $1,400 when it ships in February. It’ll come equipped with SpatialLabs Experience Center Pro, which includes Model Viewer (real-time import and conversion of CGI and CAD formats), an OpenXR runtime (for using AR/VR with relevant applications) and plugins for developers using Unreal Engine and Unity.

The 15.6-inch display has 4K resolution and covers 100% of the Adobe RGB gamut, which is an odd fit. Creators who want 3D are more likely to use P3 rather than the Adobe RGB color space, which is used for screen-to-print color matching. You’ll be able to configure the system with up to a Core i7-13620H, GeForce RTX 4050, 32GB DDR5 RAM and 2TB storage. It’s expected to ship in February.

The 11-5 Lions have already wrapped up the NFC North and will likely be the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs. They can move up to the No. 2 spot with a win against the Vikings combined with losses from both the Cowboys and Eagles, an unlikely scenario. With a win, the 7-9 Viking keep their dim playoff hopes alive, although they will need many other outcomes to go their way to nab the NFC’s final playoff spot. Still, both teams have something to play for on Sunday.

The Vikings and Lions kick off in Detroit at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) on Fox. We’ll show you how you can watch, even if the game isn’t available on your local Fox channel.

The game will be shown on TV in many cities across the country (according to 506 Sports) on live TV streaming services, but there may be cases where you’re blocked because of an internet location glitch or if you’ve elected to have an added layer of privacy for streaming.

There is an option that doesn’t require subscribing to something like NFL Sunday Ticket or NFL Plus, or searching the internet for a sketchy website: You can use a virtual private network, or VPN.

Here’s how you can watch the game from anywhere in the US with a VPN.

Read more: NFL 2023: How to Watch and Stream Games and RedZone With or Without Cable

Vikings vs. Lions: When and where?

Week 18 of the NFL season sees the Lions host the Vikings at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) on Sunday. The game will take place at Ford Field in Detroit, home of the Lions.

How to watch the Vikings vs. Lions game online from anywhere using a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view the game locally due to incorrectly applied blackout restrictions, you may need a different way to watch; that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s a great idea for when you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network and want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

With a VPN, you can virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. If your internet provider or mobile carrier has assigned you an IP address that incorrectly places you in a blackout zone, a VPN can solve for that by giving you an IP address in your correct, non-blackout area. Most VPNs — like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN — make it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US and Canada, as long as you’ve got a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

Livestream the Vikings vs. Lions game in the US

This week’s Vikings-Lions game is on Fox, so in addition to a VPN set to an area carrying the game (see tips below) you’ll need a live TV streaming service that carries a local Fox affiliate that’s broadcasting the game. The least expensive such service is Sling TV Blue.

Numerous other live TV streaming services carry local Fox stations as well, namely YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo. They all cost more than Sling TV, but they also carry more channels, including football-broadcasting channels like ESPN. Check out our live TV streaming services guide for details.

If you live in an area where the game is being broadcast, an over-the-air antenna connected to your TV provides another option for Fox. The best part about antennas is that no streaming or monthly fees are required, although you will need to make sure you have good reception.

Quick tips for streaming Vikings vs. Lions using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — experience and success may vary.
• Sling Blue is only an option if and when the ability to get Fox local affiliates is active on your account. You may want to verify that your billing address is eligible for that option before committing your credit card.
• If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
• If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
• And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.

The Texans and Colts enter Week 18 with identical 9-7 records. The Colts, however, hold the tiebreaker and can lock up a playoff berth with a win Saturday. The Texans, similarly, can jump into the playoffs if they win. That both teams are tied with the Jaguars for the top spot in the AFC South further complicates seeding.

As noted by ESPN, the Texans win the division with a win or a Jaguars loss or tie. The Colts can clinch a playoff spot with a win and could take the division with a win plus a Jaguars loss.

Kickoff for Saturday’s game is called for 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT) on ABC, ESPN and ESPN Plus. Here is how you can watch or stream.

Texans vs. Colts: When and where?

Week 18 of the NFL season sees the Colts host the Texans at 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT). The game will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Livestream the Texans vs. Colts game in the US

The Texans-Colts game is on ABC, so your local ABC affiliate will carry the game. In addition to cable, satellite and an over-the-air antenna — which lets you watch ABC for free — you can also watch the game live using a streaming service. The least expensive such service is ESPN Plus, which is carrying the game live. Most live TV streaming services including YouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV also carry your local ABC station (see below), but they’re a lot more expensive.

You can also subscribe to NFL Plus, the NFL’s own streaming service at $7 per month, but streams are limited to just watching on a phone or tablet (not a TV).

All of the live TV streaming services above offer free trials, allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live-TV streaming services guide.

The Pittsburgh Steelers enter Week 18 right on the bubble of the AFC’s Wild Card spots. At 9-7 they are tied with the seventh seeded Colts, but currently are on the outside looking in, thanks to tie-breakers. On Saturday they take on the AFC’s top-ranked Baltimore Ravens, who have already locked up the top seed in the conference and a first-round bye. NFL.com puts Pittsburgh’s playoff chances at 46%, rising to 66% with a win as the Steelers would still need some help to make it through.

Kickoff for Saturday’s game is called for 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT) on ABC, ESPN and ESPN Plus. Here is how you can watch or stream.

Steelers vs. Ravens: When and where?

Week 18 of the NFL season sees the Ravens host the Steelers at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT). The game will take place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Livestream the Steelers vs. Ravens game in the US

The Steelers-Ravens game is on ABC, so your local ABC affiliate will carry the game. In addition to cable, satellite and an over-the-air antenna — which lets you watch ABC for free — you can also watch the game live using a streaming service. The least expensive such service is ESPN Plus, which is carrying the game live. Most live TV streaming services including YouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV also carry your local ABC station (see below), but they’re a lot more expensive.

You can also subscribe to NFL Plus, the NFL’s own streaming service at $7 per month, but streams are limited to just watching on a phone or tablet (not a TV).

All of the live TV streaming services above offer free trials, allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live-TV streaming services guide.

If you can’t get enough of Ted — the foul-mouthed bear from the 2012 comedy film and its sequel — a prequel featuring the fuzzy bad influence is on the way.

The show takes place in the ’90s, offering a new look at the lifelong friendship between Ted and John (Mark Wahlberg in the movies, Max Burkholder in the series). In a trailer, the pals participate in activities befitting the franchise, including taking the opportunity to make jokes during a high school sex ed class and buying drugs to do for the first time. Seth MacFarlane voices Ted, in addition to serving as co-showrunner.

The Ted prequel will have seven episodes — the first will be 50 minutes long, followed by six 30-minute installments — and all of them will drop at once on the Peacock streaming service. Here’s exactly when you can tune in, plus why you may want to pair your binge-watch with a VPN.

When to watch the Ted prequel series on Peacock

Viewers in the US can start watching the new comedy series on Peacock as early as 5 a.m. ET/2 a.m. PT on Jan. 11.

Last year, Peacock hiked the price of its Premium and Premium Plus plans to $6 and $12 a month, respectively. Premium has ads, while Premium Plus is mostly ad-free. Premium Plus also lets you download titles and stream your live local NBC station.

If you use the free tier of Peacock (only some existing customers are able to do so), you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan to watch the full Ted season. Recently released Peacock series like Twisted Metal and Based on a True Story have one episode on the tier, but watching more requires paying for Peacock.

The 2012 film Ted is also available on the streaming service, but Ted 2 is not. You’ll find the sequel on Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max service instead.

How to watch the Ted prequel from anywhere with a VPN

Perhaps you’re traveling abroad and want to stream Peacock while away from home. With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the series from anywhere in the world. There are other good reasons to use a VPN for streaming too.

A VPN is the best way to encrypt your traffic to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds. Using a VPN is also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network and want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins. Streaming TV can be a bit smoother with a reliable, quality VPN that’s passed our tests and security standards.

You can use a VPN to stream content legally as long as VPNs are allowed in your country and you have a valid subscription to the streaming service you’re using. The US and Canada are among the countries where VPNs are legal, but we advise against streaming or downloading content on illegal torrent sites. We recommend ExpressVPN, but you may opt for another provider from our best list, such as Surfshark or NordVPN.

Follow the VPN provider’s instructions for installation, and choose a country where the Ted series will be streaming on Peacock. Before you open the streaming app, make sure you’re connected to your VPN using your selected region. If you want to stream the Ted series on more than one device, it’s possible you’ll need to configure each one to ensure you’re signed in. Go to settings and check your network connections to verify you’re logged in and connected to your VPN account. Now you’re ready to open Peacock to stream.

If you run into issues with streaming, first make sure your VPN is up and running on its encrypted IP address. Double-check that you’ve followed installation instructions correctly and you’ve picked the right geographical area for viewing. If you still encounter connection problems, you may need to reboot your device. Close all apps and windows, restart your device and connect to your VPN first. Note that some streaming services have restrictions on VPN access.

The new year is here, and many of us are thinking about goal-setting and switching up our routine so we can achieve more. This year, consider investing in your personal growth and well-being. If your goals include expanding your knowledge base, the Headway app may be a good place to start. It delivers big ideas from best-selling books in short, bite-size snippets designed to help you achieve growth, productivity and happiness. StackSocial is offering lifetime subscriptions to Headway for just $60 right now. That’s an 80% discount.

Headway serves up 15-minute summaries of nonfiction books, with recommendations based on your needs and goals. It’s designed to help people with packed schedules pick up noteworthy lessons from top-selling titles. Normally, a lifetime subscription to the app costs $300, but you can get it now for $60 for a single user.

A wide variety of the best nonfiction books have been boiled down into summaries with key insights and tips. You can dive into multiple topics, including productivity, self-growth and happiness, and you can customize the app based on your recommendations. There are also audio summaries for folks who want to learn on the go or prefer to digest information in audio form. If you want to share the app with a partner or friends, there’s a plan for two users available for $110, or you can get a family plan with four users for $150, which saves you over $1,050 compared with the usual price. We don’t know how long this offer will last, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later.

If you do go for a Headway subscription, pair it with one of these headphone and earbuds deals so you can use the app even when out and about. You might even want to kick your productivity up a notch with these helpful to-do list apps, so you can get the most out of your learning and self-improvement journey in 2024. That’s a resolution you can stick to.

Read more: Best Language Learning Apps for 2023

Apple released iOS 17.2 in December, and the update included more than a dozen new features and improvements, like the Journal app and Contact Key Verification. The update also lets you change your iPhone’s default notification alert tone.

After Apple released iOS 17 in September, some iPhone users complained online about the tech giant changing the default alert tone. Some people said the new alert tone wasn’t loud enough to wake them up if their security system went off, and one person said they relied on an older tone to alert them about care responsibilities for their parent. With iOS 17.2, you can change the default tone to better suit your needs.

Here’s how to change your iPhone’s default notification tone.

Easily change your default alert tone

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Sounds & Haptics.
3. Tap Default Alerts.

From this page, you can preview and select familiar-sounding alerts, like Tri-tone, or explore older tones (like Bell) by tapping Classic near the bottom of the menu. You can also choose None, which will silence your alert tone but leave your haptic alert — the vibration pattern for an alert — on.

You can also change your haptic alerts if you want.

How to change your haptic alert tone

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Sounds & Haptics.
3. Tap Default Alerts.
4. Tap Haptics.

From this menu, you can choose vibration patterns like Accent, which is a short, single vibration, or SOS, which vibrates SOS in Morse code. If you choose Synchronized, your haptics and alert tone will work in tandem.

There’s also an option to create a custom vibration pattern. Tap Create New Vibration in the Haptics menu, and you’ll be taken to a screen that reads, “Tap to create a vibration pattern.” You can tap quickly on your screen to make a short vibration pattern or press and hold to make a longer, single vibration. When you’re finished, tap Save, then name your pattern and it automatically gets selected as your default alert haptic.

For more on iOS 17, here’s what could be included in iOS 17.3 and our iOS 17 cheat sheet.

If you haven’t had a chance to catch Mash Burnedead masquerading as a talented student of the magical arts, now’s the time — Mashle: Magic and Muscles returns this month, and it’s the Harry Potter spoof you didn’t know you needed.

Season 2 takes viewers back to Easton Magic Academy for the Divine Visionary Candidate Exam arc, which means it’s the survival of the fittest. Not every student will make it into the elite group of Visionaries, but how far will Mash’s brute strength and lack of magical prowess get him? He’ll search for talismans, face creatures that are immune to magic, and engage in classmate battles. Things could actually fall in his favor — or not.

Here’s when and where to stream Mashle: Magic and Muscles, season 2, and why a VPN could be a useful tool for you.

Read more: Best Anime Streaming Services of 2024

When to watch Mashle: Magic and Muscle

Watch season 2 when it premieres on Crunchyroll on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 9:30 a.m. PT (12:30 p.m. ET) for premium subscribers. New episodes will stream weekly, each Saturday. Dubbed versions of the show will arrive at a later time, but you can also watch all of season 1 on Crunchyroll. Anime fans who want take in all new releases will also be able to stream the new title, Solo Leveling, at the same day and time.

Read more: Best Streaming Services of 2024

How to watch Mashle season 2 from anywhere with a VPN

Perhaps you’re traveling abroad and want to stream Crunchyroll while away from home. With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the anime series from anywhere in the world. There are other good reasons to use a VPN for streaming, too.

A VPN is the best way to encrypt your traffic to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds. Using a VPN is also a great idea if you’re traveling, find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins. Streaming TV can be a bit smoother with a reliable, quality VPN that’s passed our tests and security standards.

You can use a VPN to stream content legally as long as VPNs are legal in your country and you have a valid subscription to the streaming service you’re using. The US and Canada are among the countries where VPNs are legal, but we advise against streaming or downloading content on illegal torrent sites. We recommend ExpressVPN, but you may opt for another provider from our best list, such as Surfshark or NordVPN.

Follow the VPN provider’s instructions for installation, and choose a country where Mashle: Magic and Muscles is streaming on Crunchyroll. Before you open the streaming app, make sure you’re connected to your VPN using your selected region. If you want to stream the show on more than one device, it’s possible you’ll need to configure each one to ensure you’re signed in. Go to settings and check your network connections to verify you’re logged in and connected to your VPN account. Now you’re ready to open Crunchyroll to stream.

If you run into issues with streaming, first make sure your VPN is up and running on its encrypted IP address. Double-check that you’ve followed installation instructions correctly and you’ve picked the right geographical area for viewing. If you still encounter connection problems, you may need to reboot your device. Close all apps and windows, restart your device and connect to your VPN first. Note that some streaming services have restrictions on VPN access.

Go ahead: Resolve to be healthy in 2024 and get your financial house in order. But 2024 may also be the year you decide to take control of the personal data you share across the internet.

Your online personal data is scattered all over the web. Every time you sign up for a new social media platform or purchase something online, you give those companies bits and pieces of your personal data.

These pieces of your data are then collected by both companies and data brokers — which then sell it to other companies that can use your info to sell ads targeted at you. If you’ve given out your online data liberally, you’re paying for it now with ads that track you across the internet.

The fix to this can be somewhat complicated and confusing. Consumer Reports, however, has an app called Permission Slip that reaches out to companies on your behalf and orders them to stop selling your information.

Read on to find out exactly how to use Permission Slip to reassert some control over your online data. Plus, here are our picks for the best VPNs to protect your privacy online and the best password managers to keep your login information secure.

What is Permission Slip?

To help you claw back a bit of your personal data, some states have passed legislation that allows you to exercise some control over what happens to it. Depending on the state, you can prohibit data brokers from selling your data or delete your online data outright. But the process of controlling your data on websites can be confusing, and it’s often unclear whether you’ve opted in or out of selling your personal data. And due to the nature of how your data is shopped around, it could be nearly impossible to locate all of your online data and protect it.

This is where services like Consumer Reports’ Permission Slip come in. Permission Slip does the legwork of collecting the places that might have your data, including more than 100 companies that use your personal information. All you have to do is submit your request for your info to either be deleted outright or simply not sold any more.

How do I use Permission Slip?

To get started using Permission Slip, sign up for the service with your email address. I decided to sign up with the email address that I frequently use when signing up for rewards programs or making accounts online — that way I would be addressing most of the places that could be selling my data.

After signing up, you’ll be presented with options of popular companies and data brokers that could have your information. If you think that company might have your data, and you want to do something about it, select Learn More & Take Action. If you don’t think this company has your data and you would like to no longer see it as an option, select Hide and it won’t clog up your suggestions.

Once you’ve selected Learn More & Take Action, you will be taken to a screen that shows you what sort of data the company usually collects, and what your options are. Depending on the company and the state that you live in, you could have the option to prohibit companies from selling your data or to delete your account outright. It’s important to note that if you’re deleting your account and you have a rewards program with that company, you will lose those rewards upon deletion.

When you’ve decided whether you want to delete your account with a specific company or simply prohibit it from selling your data, Permission Slip will ask you a couple of questions that can help companies and data brokers correctly identify you and properly take care of your information.

After you input your personal info the first time, the process for continuing to remove your data is pretty simple. You will just scroll through Permission Slip’s suggestions, select companies that might have your info and then delete your account or prohibit the company from using your data.

It’s important to note that while Permission Slip is submitting the request on your behalf, you still might have to confirm the request directly with the company. It also might take a bit of time to have your request processed and your information deleted, so patience will be your friend during this process.

For more, here’s the best tax software for 2024 and here’s when Tax Day is this year.

Max subscribers won’t have to shell out an extra $10 to watch live March Madness games on the B/R Sports tier, as Warner Bros. Discovery is delaying charging customers for the add-on option. On Friday, the media giant shared that it’s working on some technical upgrades in the app, so fans can continue to enjoy live sports for free into the spring.

Max introduced live sports programming through its newly-added Bleacher Report (B/R) Sports this past October, granting viewers access to MLB, US Soccer, NHL, NBA and more. During its rollout, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that the streaming service’s add-on would be available to all subscribers at no extra cost through Feb. 29. After that date, the price would be $10 per month, which is in addition to the service’s monthly subscription rate of $10, $16 or $20 — depending on the plan.

“The B/R Sports Add-On will continue to be made available to Max subscribers on us for a few more months as we finalize some tech integrations that will ensure a more seamless customer experience with our platform partners,” an email statement from Max said.

Sports fans can stream live broadcasts from TNT, TBS and TruTV, as well as original programming, TV shows, on-demand content and documentaries. With NCAA, NBA and NHL season games running into April, viewers have one more way to catch the latest match-ups without cable. Max has slowly begun embracing the live-streaming model to stand out in the space, offering B/R Sports and live news via CNN Max’s 24/7 feed.

To hear more about how to watch sports as a cord-cutter, check out our NBA streaming guide, NHL games and coverage on live TV streaming services.