Author: Admin

  • Kicked Off Someone Else’s Netflix Account? Check Out This Tip to Save Your Netflix Profile

    Kicked Off Someone Else’s Netflix Account? Check Out This Tip to Save Your Netflix Profile

    Tragically, Netflix password sharing is a thing of the past. After hemming, hawing and testing out its new policy in foreign countries, Netflix finally cracked down on password sharing in the US in early summer 2023.

    Even though the streaming giant put an end to unofficial password sharing, you can still share a password with someone outside your household, for a price. Sharing a password with a user outside of their household will cost the owner of the account $8 per extra person on top of what they would already pay for their Netflix plan. If you’re on the standard Netflix plan you can add one person outside your household, while premium users can add up to two.

    If you were one of many who lost access to a shared Netflix account in the crackdown earlier this year, this might be putting cramp on your holiday season streaming. The good news is, even if you got booted off a shared account, you can still transfer your profile over to a new account or another existing account to keep your recommendations, save lists and other settings.

    We’ll show you how to find and enable Netflix’s Transfer Profile feature on your profile, and how to transfer your existing profile to a different account.

    While you’re here, check out the best live TV streaming services of 2023 and the best TVs of this year.

    First, enable the Profile Transfer feature on Netflix

    Before you can transfer your Netflix profile to a different account, you must enable the feature. You can do this on both the web and your mobile device (phone or tablet).

    If you’re on a computer, go to the web browser of your choice, access the Netflix website and go into the profile that you want to transfer. Next, hover your cursor over your profile icon in the top right and click Transfer Profile in the dropdown menu. On the next page, click the Allow button.

    The Profile Transfer feature being enabled on Netflix

    If you’re using a phone or tablet, open the official Netflix application, go into your profile and then tap your profile icon in the top-right corner to access your account settings. Next, tap Account, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and tap Turn on profile transfers. This will redirect you to the official profile transfer page, where you can then hit the Allow button.

    You should then get a notification saying that profile transfers will soon be coming to your account. For my account, it said I would get the feature in two days. However, it also said I could enable the profile transfer feature instantly if I clicked the confirmation link sent to me via email, which I did.

    Now transfer your profile to another Netflix account

    Once the Transfer Profile is enabled, you can transfer your profile to your own new Netflix account or a different existing account. To transfer a profile, log in to your original Netflix account (web or mobile) and go into the Transfer Profile page found in your settings. You should then see the start of the Transfer Profile process, which will give you a brief summary of what the feature does:

    • Transfers over your recommendations, viewing history, saved games, settings, My List and more to a separate account.
    • Creates a backup of your profile on the original account.
    three panels of the process for transferring your Netflix profile to a different account

    Begin the process by hitting the Start Profile Transfer button — you’ll then be asked whether you want to move your profile to a new account or an existing account. Make your selection then hit Next again.

    If you’re creating a new account, you’ll then enter the credentials for your new account. Verify your email and then follow the prompts you see on the screen to finish setting up your new account. Once this is finished, your profile will be transferred and you’ll have instant access to your new Netflix account.

    If you’re transferring to an existing account, you’ll need the account login and password of that other account in order to connect your profile.

    The owner of the original account will be notified once the process is complete, as will the owner of any existing account you transfer your profile to.

    If you get logged out of Netflix while attempting to transfer your profile, you can continue the process by logging back in and using the Finish Transfer setting.

    Check out the best TV shows to currently watch on Netflix, as well as the secret hack you need to get better Netflix recommendations.

  • Apple Breaks Boundaries by Filming Event Video on iPhone 15 Pro Max

    Apple Breaks Boundaries by Filming Event Video on iPhone 15 Pro Max

    When Apple launched the new M3 chip series for its Macs alongside new MacBook Pros and iMacs at its Scary Fast event earlier this week, it wasn’t a new product that made a big splash, but one released in September. At the end of the presentation a title card appeared that stated: “This event was shot on iPhone and edited on Mac.”

    The fineprint under the text said that all the presenters, locations and even drone footage were recorded with an iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple has used slickly shot and edited prerecorded videos in lieu of in-person live presenters for product launch events since 2020. But this is the first time Apple ever broadcast a keynote event video that was filmed entirely with an iPhone.

    Yes, the same phone you use to record your kids playing around the house, or concerts or your pets being cute was used to record Apple CEO Tim Cook and other executives launching updated Macs. But this wasn’t the case of an eager Apple employee holding their new iPhone 15 Pro Max in landscape orientation, recording video and helping Cook find his best light.

    The $1,199 phone was mounted on pricey accessories like a camera crane, drone, gimbal and dolly, all while feeding video previews to multitudes of monitors. The iPhone 15 Pro Max was in a BeastGrip cage, which, depending on the specific model, costs anywhere from $140 to $325. There were external hard drives connected to the iPhone to save recordings, external mics used to record the audio, professional lighting and modifiers to make everyone from Cook to Issa Rae look their best.

    The video shoot and post-production involved a small army of professionals. Meaning that everything else, aside from the iPhone, still costs tens of thousands of dollars if not more.

    An iPhone 15 Pro Max recording Tim Cook

    Apple isn’t shy about promoting videos shot on an iPhone. Steven Soderbergh used an iPhone to shoot full-length films like Unsane and High Flying Bird. There’s no shortage of iPhone-shot music videos for singers like Lady Gaga and Olivia Rodrigo. Heck, Steven Speilberg shot his first music video (Marcus Mumford’s Cannibal) on an iPhone.

    In a press release that provides a behind-the-scenes look, Apple mentions that an iPhone 15 Pro Max with the free Blackmagic Camera app was used to record ProRes video in Apple Log, which allows a lot of leeway to color grade videos and minimize image noise in the shadows. Even with all the lighting, large stretches of Apple’s event video were filmed in darkness, with Cook standing outdoors under a night sky and wishing us all a “good evening” instead of his usual “good morning.”

    You can learn more about how Apple made the prerecorded event video here.

    I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

    See all photos

  • Google Maps Tips You’ll Want to Use for Your 2023 Holiday Travel

    Google Maps Tips You’ll Want to Use for Your 2023 Holiday Travel

    The stress and chaos of holiday travel happens every year it seems. And when you bundle that with the potential for winter storms to cancel or delay your plans, the panic continues to rise. So if you’re planning to catch a flight or spend several hours on the road, you can use Google Maps to help you navigate to help ease some of the stress of traveling.

    While Google Maps can’t prevent a winter storm, there are a variety of ways it can help to make the journey easier, from quickly getting around the airport to using the Maps app offline. Check out some of the app’s best features for holiday travelers below.
    For more travel advice, here’s the best time to shop for airline tickets.

    1. Navigate through airports and train stations

    Google Maps App on phone

    If you need to quickly find a store in a large mall or transit center, Google Maps has a Directory tab for all airports, malls and transit stations. This can help when you’re running around the airport trying to find a place to eat or grabbing a last-minute souvenir before catching your flight.

    The tab will tell you a destination’s business hours and what floor it’s on. You can look through restaurants, stores, lounges and parking lots.

    2. See how busy an attraction is

    To see how busy a spot is, check out Google Maps’ Busyness tool. Already you could search for a location, like a business, to see a chart that shows how crowded it is in real time. But a feature called Area Busyness lets you see when entire map areas are clogged with people.

    To use the feature, open the Google Maps app on your Android or iPhone (or your computer’s browser) and move around the map to find a general area, say, downtown, a riverwalk or a quaint nearby town. The busyness information will now automatically appear on the map, so you don’t need to specifically search for a place to see how crowded it is. Google Maps may say something like “Busy Area” and when you click for more details, it could say, for example, “As busy as it gets” or “Not too busy.”

    However, you can also search the location you’re after and scroll down to see busy times versus non-busy times.

    3. Input your itinerary into Google Maps

    Google Maps can chart your holiday travels, but it can also quickly show you your flight, hotel, car rental and restaurant reservations, saving you the hassle of searching through your email for check-in times and confirmation numbers.

    To see your upcoming reservations, all you have to do is search for “my reservations” in the Google Maps search box to see a list of what you’ve booked. Maps pulls this information from your emails in Gmail. You can also select an item to see more about the reservation, including date and location.

    4. Make a restaurant reservation

    Planning a dinner night out with a large group for the holidays can be a hassle, especially when you go at a busy hour. Google Maps can help you book a lunch or dinner reservation. Here’s how.
    1. In Maps, tap the Restaurants button at the top of the map to see a list of places to eat.

    2. Select a restaurant that looks good, and in the window that pops up, reserve a table or join a waitlist, if it gives you that option (not all do).
    Remember you can use the busyness feature mentioned above to pick the least packed place. Also, note that some restaurants that are closed to dine-in may still allow delivery, curbside pickup or outdoor seating.

    Google Maps GPS app

    5. Use Google Maps offline

    Heading someplace remote where you may not have a mobile network connection? Google Maps can still give you directions when you’re offline.

    1.Before you head out, search in Maps for the location where you’ll want directions.

    2.In the location’s window, pull up the menu at the bottom.

    3.Scroll right through the tabs and tap Download offline map, and then in the next window tap Download again. Maps will download a map to your phone for the area you selected.

    Now, as you use Google Maps for directions in the area you downloaded a map for, when you lose your cellular connection Maps will switch to the offline map to guide you. Note that because you’re offline, Maps won’t be able to offer real-time traffic info.

    6. Find EV charging stations anywhere

    If you’re taking your electric vehicle out for shopping, dinner or a vacation, Google Maps can help you find EV charging stations on your route, along with estimated wait times for a charging port. You can also filter your search by connector type — such as J1772, CCS (Combo 1 or 2) and Tesla — to see just the stations that are compatible with your EV. Note you can also search for gas stations by following these same directions. (Here’s how you can save money at the pump.)

    1. In Maps, scroll through the tabs on the top of the screen and tap More.

    2. Scroll down to the Services section and select Electric vehicle charging.

    3. Maps will display nearby charging stations and how many are available.

    4. Tap a charging station on the map to have Maps add it as a stop on your trip.

    You can also use this trick to search for other places along your route, like a coffee shop.

    7. Share your location with others

    Is anything more frustrating during a group activity than when the group gets split up and no one can find each other? Google Maps can help bring you all back together.

    1.In Google Maps, tap your profile icon in the top right corner and tap Location sharing.

    2. Tap Share location, and select who you want to share your location with and for how long you want to share it.

    3.Tap Share, and Google Maps will send your location to everyone you’ve selected.

    4. If you want to see someone else’s location, tap that person’s icon at the top of the window and then tap Request.

    Read more: New Google Maps Immersive View Update Is Coming Soon. Here’s the Latest

  • Premier League Soccer Livestream: How to Watch Newcastle vs. Arsenal From Anywhere

    Premier League Soccer Livestream: How to Watch Newcastle vs. Arsenal From Anywhere

    It’s a potentially crucial test for Arsenal’s title aspirations on Saturday, as the Gunners take on Newcastle at St. James’ Park.

    Arsenal remain unbeaten in the English Premier League, but will have been jolted by their stinging 3-0 EFL Cup defeat away to London rivals West Ham on Thursday.

    While currently somewhat off the pace of the leading pack, a win here for Newcastle would pull them back into the mix, with the Magpies coming into this clash off the back of a confidence-boosting 3-0 win away in the EFL Cup against Man United on Thursday.

    Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch all of the action live wherever you are in the world.

    Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard standing with both arms outstretched.

    Newcastle United vs. Arsenal: When and where?

    Newcastle United host Arsenal at St James’ Park on Saturday, Nov. 4. Kickoff is set for 5.30 p.m. GMT local time. That’s 1.30 p.m. ET or 10.30 a.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 4.30 a.m. AEDT early on Sunday morning in Australia.

    How to watch the Newcastle vs. Arsenal game online from anywhere using a VPN

    If you find yourself unable to view the game locally, 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 also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

    With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem 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, UK and Canada, as long as you have 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 Newcastle vs. Arsenal game in the US

    Sunday’s Newcastle-Arsenal match is streaming on Peacock. You’ll need a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus account to catch the game live.

    Livestream the Newcastle vs. Arsenal game in the UK

    Premier League rights in the UK are split between Sky Sports, Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports (previously known as BT Sport). Newcastle vs. Arsenal is exclusive to Sky Sports, showing on its Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League and Ultra channels. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the game via its Sky Go app, but cord-cutters will want to get set up with a Now account and a Now Sports membership to stream the game.

    Livestream the Newcastle vs. Arsenal game in Canada

    If you want to stream this match live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to Fubo Canada. The service has exclusive rights for this Premier League season.

    Livestream the Newcastle vs. Arsenal game in Australia

    Football fans Down Under can watch this EPL fixture on streaming service Optus Sport, which is showing every single Premier League game live in Australia this season.

    Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN

    • With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming EPL matches may vary.
    • 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.
  • iOS 17.2 Public Beta 1: The Journal App Could Be Here Soon

    iOS 17.2 Public Beta 1: The Journal App Could Be Here Soon

    Apple released iOS 17.2 beta 1 to public beta testers on Oct. 27, and the beta includes at least a dozen new additions, including long-awaited features including the Journal app and Contact Key Verification. There’s no word on when iOS 17.2 will be released to the public, but developers and beta testers can download and try the beta and all the new features now.

    We recommend downloading a beta on something other than your primary device. Since this isn’t the final version of iOS 17.2, these features might be buggy and battery life may be shortened, and it’s best to keep that on a secondary device.

    If you’re a developer or public beta tester, here are some of the new features you can find in the first iOS 17.2 beta. Note that these might not be the only new features to land on your iPhone when iOS 17.2 is released.

    The Journal app

    Apple announced the Journal app at the company’s WWDC event in June alongside iOS 17, but the app was absent from the update’s launch on Sept. 18. But it now appears the Journal app will be included in iOS 17.2.

    Apple said at WWDC that the app uses on-device machine learning to create personalized writing suggestions. Some of these suggestions are created using information on your iPhone, like photos you’ve taken and music and podcasts you’ve listened to throughout the day. And if you forget what podcast you listened to earlier in the day — like I regularly do — the app shows you that information when you go to make an entry.

    Reflections in the Journal app

    The app also shows you a handful of topics to write about, called Reflections. Some of my Reflections included, “Write about a time you gave someone an unexpected gift,” and “Who cheers you up when you’re feeling down?”

    But if you don’t want to write about whatever you listened to or use a Reflection, you can just write by tapping the New Entry button. In New Entry, you can write whatever you want, or create a voice note, take a photo or create a video to add to your journal entry.

    You can also lock the app after it’s closed for a set amount of time for some privacy. So if you close the app and don’t reopen it for a certain amount of time, like five minutes, it will ask for your Face ID or passcode to open it again.

    Contact Key Verification in Messages

    Apple announced Contact Key Verification in December 2022, but the security feature is just now appearing in iOS 17.2 beta 1.

    “With iMessage Contact Key Verification, users who face extraordinary digital threats — such as journalists, human rights activists, and members of government — can choose to further verify that they are messaging only with the people they intend,” Apple said in a news release in December.

    Apple wrote that many people won’t be the target of a cyberattack, but Contact Key Verification gives people who might be a target an additional security layer.

    React with Live Stickers

    A text showing a picture of a dog

    Live Stickers is a new feature Apple introduced with the launch of iOS 17. The feature lets you create your own stickers from pictures you’ve taken. In iOS 17.2 beta 1, you can now react to texts in Messages with your Live Stickers. To react with a Live Sticker, long-press on a text like you would to add a reaction, then tap Add Sticker in the dropdown menu to pull up your stickers.

    More Memoji customization

    In iOS 17.2 beta 1, there’s a new menu in the Memoji editor called Body that lets you edit the appearance of your Memoji’s body. You can adjust your Memoji’s waist, bust, shoulders and arms in this menu. However, there are only three options in each of these sections as of the time of this writing, so Memoji isn’t a full-on character creator menu like you’d see in a video game.

    Catch-up arrow in Messages

    A new feature in iOS 17.2 beta 1 can help you understand what’s happening in a texting group or if someone sends you a lot of messages. The beta brings the catch-up arrow back to Messages, so if you wake from a nap with a lot of messages, you can jump to the beginning of the new messages and follow the drama for context.

    The catch-up arrow was in some early iOS 17 betas, but it has been absent since.

    iPhone 15 Pro action button updated

    Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro Max

    According to the Apple news blog iSoftware Updates, iOS 17.2 beta 1 updates the iPhone 15 Pro’s action button. With the beta, the action button now has a translate function. The new function will reportedly allow you to translate phrases or have a conversation with someone in another language.

    Sharing content between your iPhone and Apple Vision Pro

    Apple announced its Vision Pro headset at the company’s WWDC event in June. While you can’t buy the Vision Pro yet — Apple plans for the headset to be available in the US in early 2024 — iOS 17.2 beta 1 introduces a setting to allow your iPhone to work as an additional screen for it.

    The setting is called AirPlay Receiver and can be found under AirPlay & Handoff in Settings. Apple writes that AirPlay Receiver allows you to stream or share content from your Vision Pro headset to your iPhone.

    Collaborative playlists in Apple Music Music

    With iOS 17.2 beta 1, Apple Music subscribers can collaborate on playlists with other subscribers. To collaborate together, you go into a playlist and tap a symbol in the top right corner of your screen that shows a person with a plus sign.

    Updated Weather widget

    In previous iOS versions, you’d have three options for a Weather widget: a small tile, a medium size tile bar and a large tile that took up half your screen. All showed the current weather conditions in more detail as they went up in size.

    In the first beta of iOS 17.2 though, you have six Weather widgets to choose from. The first three are the original small, medium and large tiles. The three new widgets are all the same size as the small tile, but show more details for the day.

    One tile shows the current condition, precipitation, UV index, wind levels and air quality index. Another tile shows the current conditions plus the expected conditions for the next four days. And the final new tile shows when you can expect the sunrise and sunset.

    New digital Clock widget

    In iOS 17.2 beta 1, the Clock widget gets an update as well. The Clock widget now gives you the option for a digital clock to easily read the time.

    The clock widget showing 2:42 and the Weather widget showing the forecast for Denver

    News app supports Live Activities

    The News app also gets an update in iOS 17.2 beta 1. Now, you can enable Live Activities for the app, so you can follow news events, like elections, as they happen on Live Activity-enabled iPhones.

    Apple TV app updated

    The Apple TV app also gets an update with iOS 17.2 beta 1. If you open the app and tap Store in the bottom menu, you’ll see the Movies and TV Shows sectionsacross the top of your screenare gone.

    Local Awareness option in Emergency Alerts

    Emergency Alerts menu in iOS 17.2 beta 1

    With iOS 17.1 beta 1, there’s a new option in the Emergency Alerts menu called Local Awareness. Apple writes that if you enable this option, it uses your approximate location to improve the accuracy, timeliness and reliability of emergency alerts you receive.

    More Contact Poster customization options

    Contact Posters is another new feature Apple introduced with iOS 17. With iOS 17.2 beta 1, you can customize your Contact Posters even more by giving you the option to give a contact poster rainbow-colored text.

    Apple hasn’t announced a release date for iOS 17.2. The company might include more features in iOS 17.2, and there’s no guarantee that these features will be included in the update, either.

    17 Hidden iOS 17 Features and Settings on Your iPhone

    See all photos

    For more Apple news, here’s what Apple announced at its ‘Scary Fast’ October event, what was included in iOS 17.1 and our iOS 17 cheat sheet.

  • Early Black Friday Deal Scores You a Fire TV Stick From $18

    Early Black Friday Deal Scores You a Fire TV Stick From $18

    From game night to holiday movie binging, getting cozy in front of your TV is a right of passage from fall into winter. With Black Friday just around the corner, Amazon has dropped the prices on several Fire TV devices, many of which are on our list of best streaming devices.

    If you’re not sure which Fire TV Stick to choose, have a look at our list of the best Fire TV Sticks to compare. One of our favorites for anyone with a 4K TV who wants to take advantage of ultra-high-definition streaming, is the Fire TV Stick 4K. It’s currently priced at $45, saving you 25%. The device also offers HDR and HDR10 Plus. And streaming can be lightning-fast with Wi-Fi 6 support.

    If you don’t have a 4K TV or aren’t particularly worried about streaming in the highest resolution, the most affordable model at this sale is the Fire TV Stick Lite which you can grab for just $18, $12 off. It’s our favorite budget option and only offers the basics that allow you to access your favorite streaming apps through any HD TV. Or, for just $2 more, you can upgrade to Amazon Fire Stick with Alexa Voice Remote, which is currently on sale at 50% off the regular price.

    And if you want the total powerhouse, the Fire TV Cube also offers 4K streaming and is the fastest streamer in this sale — it’s twice as powerful as the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and it’s $110 right now. It features Wi-Fi 6E and Ethernet, hands-free Alexa, along with support for Dolby Vision, HDR and Dolby Atmos.

  • Black Friday Ads: Shop Early Deals at Best Buy, Walmart, B&H, Target and More

    Black Friday has evolved from a one-day shopping event to a full-on shopping extravaganza, with sales lasting for weeks on end with various deals and promotions that have started kicking off as early as October. While Black Friday promotions vary from store to store, one of the most exciting parts of the shopping season is when the Black Friday ads start dropping, giving you a chance to start planning what you want to buy and where you can find it at the best price.

    Until recently, most of us waited for Black Friday ad leaks, looking forward to seeing what sort of offers would be available at our favorite stores. Retailers wanted to keep the deals a secret, but that never worked out for them, and now the retailers each start to release their own ads as early as the beginning of November. We expect other major players to unveiled their Black Friday ads soon, but we’ve gone ahead and compiled those available below, and we’ll continue to update this list as new ones crop up.

    Black Friday deals happening now

    If you’re looking to take advantage of deep discounts, you don’t have to wait. These retailers have plenty of great deals you can snatch up right now.

    Black Friday deals coming soon

    Ready to plan? Several retailers have announced plans or specific deals you can snap up soon. Check out some of the most anticipated offers below.

    Retailers with previous Black Friday deals we’re on the lookout for

    Below you’ll find last year’s Black Friday offerings from multiple retailers. While we have yet to see Black Friday deals roll in for the retailers below, we’re keeping a close eye on them in the days ahead and will let you know as soon as we see an update for 2023 Black Friday deals so that you can plan accordingly.

  • Best Small Soundbar of 2023

    Best Small Soundbar of 2023

    Updated on Nov. 3, 2023

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    Written by Ty Pendlebury
    Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.Reviews ethics statement
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    Ty Pendlebury Editor
    Ty Pendlebury is a journalism graduate of RMIT Melbourne, and has worked at CNET since 2006. He lives in New York City where he writes about streaming and home audio.
    Expertise Ty has worked for radio, print, and online publications, and has been writing about home entertainment since 2004. He majored in Cinema Studies when studying at RMIT. He is an avid record collector and streaming music enthusiast. Credentials

    • Ty was nominated for Best New Journalist at the Australian IT Journalism awards, but he has only ever won one thing. As a youth, he was awarded a free session for the photography studio at a local supermarket.
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    Bigger isn’t always better, especially when it comes to speakers. Big sound can absolutely come in small packages. If you want an exceptional audio experience and you don’t want to break the bank on a big set of speakers — or maybe you simply just do not have the room — considering some of the best small soundbars on the market may be your best bet.

    Whether you have a small TV or are limited in your space for an external speaker, a small soundbar is a great option that can deliver a quality sound experience. The best small soundbars can fit into the tiniest of spaces and feature a surprising array of bells and whistles. Case in point: The Roku Streambar is a compact soundbar that’s also capable of streaming video, making it a top contender for your bedroom setup. Or if making dialogue easier to understand is your focus, the Yamaha or Polk speakers below could be a fantastic fit.

    All the systems here feature single soundbars ranging between 1 and 2 feet long, while the Polk also includes a separate subwoofer.

    Editors’ choice

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    $130 at Roku

    Best overall

    Roku Streambar

    If there was ever a solid gold bargain, it’s undoubtedly the Roku Streambar, which combines both audio and streaming in one device. This is a two-channel soundbar with a fully fledged 4K streamer onboard, and even if you don’t use the streaming functions it works well as a standalone soundbar. As a smaller soundbar it doesn’t have the deepest bass, but it does offer an expressive midrange with a dedicated voice mode for clearer dialog. It’s an unbeatable value and frequently on sale for under $100.

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    $180 at Amazon

    Best for dialogue

    Yamaha SR-C20A

    Yamaha is one of the most consistent makers of soundbars, but this also means its designs tend to cost a little more than competitors. The SR-C20A, on the other hand, is affordable and also manages to sound great when paired with your TV.

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    $250 at Best Buy

    Best for music

    Polk Audio MagniFi Mini

    At 13 inches wide, the soundbar part of the Mini fits the moniker, even if you do need somewhere to put the gallon-sized subwoofer. The inclusion of the sub is worthwhile, however, as the system punches well above its weight with great sound in movies and with music. In addition, having Google’s Chromecast built-in enables a wealth of streaming and multiroom capabilities.

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    $279 at Walmart

    Best for Sonos fans

    Sonos Ray

    Sonos’ entry-level soundbar features the company’s excellent multiroom music system onboard while being smaller than the Sonos Beam. We were impressed with the sound quality for both music and movies. It delivers a surprisingly wide soundstage through the use of proprietary waveguides. Connection is simple with a single optical connection, while users seeking HDMI or Atmos should look to the step-up Beam Gen 2.

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  • ‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ Streaming Release Date and How to Watch From Anywhere

    ‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ Streaming Release Date and How to Watch From Anywhere

    A new series from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan is set to hit Paramount Plus in two days. Executive produced by Sheridan and created by Chad Feehan, Lawmen: Bass Reeves is based on the real-life story of Reeves, one of the first Black deputy US marshals.

    The eight-episode season features David Oyelowo as Reeves and counts Donald Sutherland and Dennis Quaid among its cast members. The series adds to Sheridan’s long list of Paramount Plus shows, which in addition to Yellowstone and spinoffs 1883 and 1923 include Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, recent release Special Ops: Lioness and the upcoming entry Land Man.

    According to Paramount Plus, Lawmen: Bass Reeves is part of an anthology series, with future iterations following “other iconic lawmen and outlaws who have impacted history.” Stick around to see when you can watch it, and how a VPN could potentially improve the streaming experience.

    How to watch Taylor Sheridan’s Lawmen: Bass Reeves

    Paramount Plus is the only way to watch the series. In the US, the first two episodes will drop overnight and be available all day on Nov. 5, according to Paramount Plus.

    If you aren’t already subscribed to the streaming service, you can choose between $6-per-month Paramount Plus Essential, which is ad supported, or $12-per-month Paramount Plus with Showtime, which is mostly ad free and includes Showtime programming like the forthcoming show The Curse. We compared Paramount Plus’ ad-based plan to other streamers’ ad plans in this roundup.

    How to watch Lawmen: Bass Reeves with a VPN

    Perhaps you’re traveling abroad and want to stream Paramount Plus 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 can 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 Lawmen: Bass Reeves will be streaming on Paramount Plus. Before you open the streaming app, make sure you’re connected to your VPN using your selected region. If you want to stream Lawmen: Bass Reeves 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 Paramount Plus 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 have 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 Original Apple Watch Ultra Is Down to $695 at Woot

    The Original Apple Watch Ultra Is Down to $695 at Woot

    Sure, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 might be here but it doesn’t offer all that much that you can’t get from the original Apple Watch Ultra. And if you buy the first-gen model you’ll save some money, too. So really, why pay more?

    Ordering an Apple Watch Ultra from Woot today will cost you just $695. That’s around $100 less than you’d have to pay to get the updated model and you still get to pick from a handful of different band styles and colors, too. Just remember that Woot’s sales are often limited in quantity which means you risk missing out if you delay that order too long.

    This isn’t quite the lowest price that we’ve seen the Apple Watch Ultra hit — it fell to $629 at Best Buy in one style before selling out, and is still available with the orange Alpine Loop for $660 at Target — but the Woot sale allows you to pick up up the Ocean Band-equipped Apple Watch Ultra which is not currently discounted elsewhere plus some other styles. Since Apple Watch Ultra bands costs the best part of $100 on their own, it’s cheaper to go the Woot route if the retailer has the style you’re after. It’s unlikely that retailers will be able to get more units of the original Apple Watch once they sell out, so you don’t have long to make the most of these deals.

    And that’s a shame, because the Apple Watch Ultra is still a great watch. It comes with a large, 49mm case, a tough titanium construction, an Action button for quickly launching apps and workouts, and a dual-frequency GPS that offers improved tracking accuracy. Voice calls get a boost with this watch as well, as there are extra microphones included in the build. And unlike other models, this Apple Watch includes LTE connectivity by default.

    As well as a bigger screen, the always-on OLED display is twice as bright as the one found in the Apple Watch Series 8. It also has an extra-long 36-hour battery life (or even longer in low power mode).

    While this watch is designed with athletes in mind, coming with a ton of sensors and safety features, there are plenty of upgrades that make this watch a compelling choice for the average person, too.

    Read more: Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Apple Watch Ultra: A Rugged Watch Comparison