Author: Admin

Apple makes some of the best headphones out there. The AirPods Max are the company’s top-of-the-line option with arguably the best noise cancelation on the market. And today only, you can save $99 on a set at both Amazon and Best Buy, bringing the price to just $450. The offer is only available today at Best Buy, and we expect Amazon will match that timing, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later.

According to CNET’s David Carnoy, Apple’s AirPods Max are the best high-end wireless over-ear headphones you can get. They have an Apple H1 headphone chip in each ear cup and offer top-notch sound quality. They have a premium build quality, comfortable fit (despite being heavy) and Apple’s neat virtual surround-sound spatial audio feature for both music and video watching.

You’ll get up to 20 hours of playback per charge, which means you can enjoy your favorite content all day long without interruption. Along with impressive active noise cancellation, which allows you to tune out the world and immerse yourself in your music, these headphones also offer a transparency mode for when you want to hear everything around you.

The AirPods Max can connect to any Bluetooth device, but it’s worth noting that some features, including spatial audio, will only work when paired with Apple devices.

Be sure to check out our roundup of the best AirPods Max accessories to find cases, cushions and more. And if this is still too much of a stretch for your budget, you can find some AirPods Max alternatives at a cheaper price.

Though it was unveiled just last month at Google’s I/O developer conference, we’ve already seen several solid Google Pixel 7A deals. But if you’re a regular shopper at Amazon, the current promo offering a free $50 Amazon gift card with Pixel 7A purchases is hard to beat. This deal was available during the preorder phase for the new budget Pixel device but it’s back through June 18, so make the most of it while you can. Best Buy has a similar promo, too.

Even though the Pixel 7A is designed to be an entry-level device, it’s still plenty powerful and has already taken the crown as the best phone under $500. It’s powered by Google’s Tensor G2 chip, the same chip found in the Pixel 7. It also features a 64-megapixel camera and a 6.1-inch, 90Hz display, plus nice extras such as face unlock and wireless charging — notable upgrades over previous Pixel A phones that help close the gap between the affordable Pixel line and more premium flagships. Mixed usage battery life should be up to 24 hours, too.

The Amazon gift card will be mailed to you and can be redeemed in the Amazon app. Best Buy’s promo offers an e-gift card that will be provided after your order ships or is picked up.

Microsoft continues its fight to complete the $69 billion acquisition of game publisher Activision Blizzard, but the US Federal Trade Commission has added another obstacle in an attempt to block the deal.

The FTC filed an injunction Monday to stop Microsoft’s purchase of Activision before the July 18 deadline, as reported earlier by CNBC. This comes several months after the commission filed a lawsuit against the tech giant over the acquisition saying the deal would “enable Microsoft to suppress competitors to its Xbox gaming consoles and its rapidly growing subscription and cloud-gaming business.”

Microsoft first announced its plans to acquire Activision Blizzard in January 2022. Closing the deal would turn Xbox maker Microsoft into one of the top three video game publishers, right behind rival Sony. Activision Blizzard is one of the largest third-party publishers, with some major franchises that would give a much-needed boost to Microsoft’s games catalog, including Call of Duty, Candy Crush and Overwatch.

Although Microsoft has won a few merger-related battles, it still has hurdles to clear.

Who’s left to approve the deal?

Microsoft has yet to receive approval from regulators in the US. The FTC’s lawsuit from December and the injunction on Monday hamper the deal from receiving approval.

The injunction is sought to “maintain the status quo and prevent interim harm to competition during the pendency of the FTC’s administrative proceeding to determine whether the Proposed Acquisition violates US antitrust law,” the filing says.

The FTC’s suit “should accelerate the decision-making process,” Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith tweeted late Monday. “This benefits everyone. We always prefer constructive and amicable paths with governments but have confidence in our case and look forward to presenting it,” he added.

A hearing is set for Aug. 2 regarding the lawsuit.

The UK is another major country that has yet to sign off on the deal. In April, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority blocked the $69 billion deal, saying it would result in higher prices and fewer choices for gamers. Microsoft’s appeal to the ruling says the CMA “made fundamental errors in its calculation and assessment of market share data for cloud gaming services by failing to take account of constraints from native gaming (whereby gamers access games installed on their devices through a digital download or physical disc).”

Microsoft has continued to deny that the deal would hamper competition within the video game industry and continues to negotiate with regulators to get approval.

What does this deal mean for gamers?

For Xbox Game Pass subscribers, the deal means Activision Blizzard’s catalog of games will be incorporated into the service, likely similar to how Bethesda games were when Microsoft acquired that company in 2020.

How gamers who don’t have an Xbox, and instead use a Sony PlayStation or Nintendo Switch console, will be affected is less clear. Critics of the deal are concerned that Microsoft could make future games developed by Activision unavailable on rival consoles. (Microsoft did just this for games developed by Bethesda.) This is especially concerning for a major Activision title like Call of Duty.

Microsoft already agreed to a 10-year deal with Nintendo to bring Call of Duty games to its consoles, but Sony reportedly rejected a similar agreement. Sony remains against the deal and continues to submit filings to regulators about its concerns over the acquisition.

What is cloud gaming?

Cloud gaming is the technology to stream video games remotely to a device such as a phone, tablet or smart TV. While the technology has been around for more than a decade, it’s only in recent years that it’s really taken off, thanks in part to it being an added feature for Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass and Sony’s PS Plus.

Other companies developed their own cloud gaming services, such as Amazon’s Luna and GeForce Now. The former made an agreement with Microsoft in February to bring more of its games to the service over the next 10 years.

Mint Mobile, the prepaid wireless carrierpartly owned by actor Ryan Reynolds, announced on Monday that for a limited time, you can sign up for any of the company’s plans for just $15 per month as a new customer.

The company already charges that price for its cheapest 5GB plan. But now, new customers can choose plans that offer 15GB, 20GB or unlimited data and still pay just $15 a month. Like Cinderella’s coach at midnight, the price reverts back to each plan’s usual cost after three months: $20 for 15GB, $25 for 20GB, and $30 a month for the unlimited data plan.

The unlimited plan includes unlimited nationwide talk and text, a 10GB mobile hotspot, Wi-Fi calling and text, and free international calls to Mexico and Canada. Data speeds reduce after 40GB, but data is unlimited. If you want to sign up, you can bring your own unlocked eligible phone and keep your current phone number.

Of course, it’s a limited-time offer, good for only a few months.

Read more: Switching Phone Carriers in 2023: What to Know Before Changing Providers

Wireless carrier T-Mobile announced in March that it would buy Mint Mobile in a dealpotentially valued at $1.35 billion. T-Mobile will acquire Ka’ena Corporation, the parent company of Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile, as well as wireless wholesaler Plum. T-Mobile says it expects the deal to close later this year.

Reynolds, who purchased an ownership stake in Mint Mobile in November 2019, is still appearing in Mint Mobile’s commercials for now. He posted a short video on social media on Monday in which a “reverse auctioneer” lowers the unlimited-plan price.

“What brand of coffee do you drink?” Reynolds jokes to the fast-talking auctioneer.

If you’re looking for a new mobile plan, check out CNET’s list of the best prepaid phone plans and best unlimited data phone plans available — and if you’re in the market for a new phone, here’s a list of the best phones of 2023.

Microsoft continues its fight to complete the $69 billion acquisition of game publisher Activision Blizzard, but the US Federal Trade Commission will reportedly add another obstacle in an attempt to block the deal.

The FTC will file an injunction Monday to stop Microsoft’s purchase of Activision before the July 18 deadline, according to a report from CNBC. This comes several months after the commission filed a lawsuit against Microsoft over the acquisition saying the deal would “enable Microsoft to suppress competitors to its Xbox gaming consoles and its rapidly growing subscription and cloud-gaming business.”

Microsoft first announced its plans to acquire Activision Blizzard in January 2022. Closing the deal would turn Xbox maker Microsoft into one of the top three video game publishers, right behind rival Sony. Activision Blizzard is one of the largest third-party publishers, with some major franchises that would give a much-needed boost to Microsoft’s games catalog, including Call of Duty, Candy Crush and Overwatch.

Though Microsoft has won a few merger-related battles recently, it still has a few more hurdles to clear before the deal is done.

Who’s left to approve the deal?

Microsoft still has to receive approval from regulators in the US. The FTC’s lawsuit from December and the injunction on Monday hamper the deal from receiving approval. A hearing is set for Aug. 2 regarding the lawsuit.

The UK is another major country that has yet to sign off on the deal. In April, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority blocked the $69 billion deal, saying it would result in higher prices and fewer choices for gamers. Microsoft’s appeal to the ruling says the CMA “made fundamental errors in its calculation and assessment of market share data for cloud gaming services by failing to take account of constraints from native gaming (whereby gamers access games installed on their devices through a digital download or physical disc).”

Microsoft has continued to deny that the deal would hamper competition within the video game industry and continues to negotiate with regulators to get approval.

What does this deal mean for gamers?

For Xbox Game Pass subscribers, the deal means Activision Blizzard’s catalog of games will be incorporated into the service, likely similar to how Bethesda games were when Microsoft acquired that company in 2020.

How gamers who don’t have an Xbox, and instead use a Sony PlayStation or Nintendo Switch console, will be impacted is less clear. Critics of the deal are concerned that Microsoft could make future games developed by Activision unavailable on rival consoles. (Microsoft did just this for game developed by Bethesda.) This is especially concerning for a major Activision title like Call of Duty.

Microsoft already agreed to a 10-year deal with Nintendo to bring Call of Duty games to its consoles, but Sony reportedly rejected a similar agreement. Sony remains against the deal and continues to submit filings to regulators about its concerns over the acquisition.

What is cloud gaming?

Cloud gaming is the technology to stream video games remotely to a device such as a phone, tablet or smart TV. While the technology has been around for more than a decade, it’s only in recent years has it really taken off thanks in part to it being an added feature for Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass and Sony’s PS Plus.

Other companies developed their own cloud gaming services, such as Amazon’s Luna and GeForce Now. The former made an agreement with Microsoft in February to bring more of its games to the service over the course of the next 10 years.

After winning Games 3 and 4 in Miami to take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Miami Heat, the Denver Nuggets can win the franchise’s first NBA title on their home court tonight. The Heat have already won seven road games during the 2023 NBA Playoffs and will need an eighth tonight in Denver to force a Game 6 back in Miami. Denver’s dynamic duo of Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray have looked nearly unstoppable for long stretches during the series, but you should never count out the Heat’s Jimmy Butler when you’re talking about playoff basketball.

Game 5 is set to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. PT) on ABC.

Whether you live in the US or are looking to follow the basketball action from around the world, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to watch the 2023 NBA Finals live, no matter where you are.