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iOS 16.3, first released in January, brings a number of small but significant updates to Apple’s iOS 16 iPhone software, including security keys for iCloud and new wallpaper options. A smaller iOS 16.3.1 update in February threw in a few bug fixes and security updates as well. These updates continue to add onto Apple’s iOS 16, which first came out in September for anyone with a compatible iPhone. Installing the operating system software on your iPhone gives you new features and settings, such as a more customizable lock screen, a way to edit sent messages and a magic photo editing tool. Plus, iOS 16 brings back the battery percentage icon.

iOS 16 was announced last spring at Apple’s WWDC conference prior to its public launch alongside the iPhone 14. If you’re curious about what else iOS 16 offers, read on as we break down the 11 best new features on your iPhone. Just make sure you’ve already completed these three steps first, and check out the lesser-known features lurking in iOS 16, too.

Best iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro Cases You Can Buy Right Now

See at Cnet

The ability to edit and ‘unsend’ messages

“Embarrassing typos are a thing of the past,” Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, said at WWDC as he introduced three of the most requested features for the Messages app.

First, in iOS 16 you’ll be able to edit sent messages. So if you notice a typo after a message, you’ll be able to edit the message after the fact. A tiny “edited” appears in the status under the message.

Next, and this might be my favorite new feature, you can immediately recall a sent message. If you accidentally send an unfinished message, you can use the Undo Send tool to prevent it from being read and hopefully look less chaotic to your friends and family.

Last, you can mark messages and threads as unread. This could be an excellent tool for when you don’t have time to respond to a message in the moment, but want to make sure you come back to it later.

Now playing:Watch this:Testing iOS 16 (Edit/Delete Sent Messages, New Lock Screen…

16:22

A new customizable lock screen

One of the things you look at the most on your iPhone is the lock screen, especially if you have a Face ID-equipped iPhone. iOS 16 brings the most substantial update to the iPhone’s lock screen yet. Press and hold to edit your lock screen. You can swipe to try out several different styles. Each style changes the color filter for the background photo and the font on the lock screen so everything complements each other. This feels a bit like Apple’s take on Google’s Material You, which launched with Android 12.

You can also customize the fonts for the time and date, and add lock screen widgets like temperature, activity rings and a calendar. The widgets are akin to complications on the Apple Watch lock screen.

You can even set up multiple customized lock screens with different widgets and easily swipe to switch between them. There’s also a photo shuffle option that automatically changes the pictures on your lock screen.

One feature we’d been hoping to see Apple add was an always-on display. It’s something nearly all Android phones have; even the Apple Watch does. Well, with the new iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, the always-on display has finally arrived.

Notifications and live activities

Sometimes notifications can cover up your lock screen’s photo, so iOS 16 moves notifications to the bottom of your display. As you receive them, instead of being compiled into a list, they appear like a vertical carousel. This not only looks better but should be a big help for one-handed use of your iPhone.

iOS 16 also aims to solve another notification problem. Sometimes you get a bunch of notifications in a row from one app, like the score of a basketball game. A new tool for developers called Live Activities makes it easier to stay on top of things happening in real time from your lock screen, instead of getting a series of interruptions.

Live Activities should make it easier to follow sporting events, workouts or even the progress of an Uber ride.

Skip CAPTCHAs using Private Access Tokens

The CAPTCHA — which stands for Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart — has been a necessary evil across the internet. CAPTCHAs are designed to make sure that a person is accessing a website or service, and not a bot. I find them annoying, as they often involve reading strangely written letters or having to find all the images that have a truck. With iOS 16, Apple plans to start replacing these awkward interactions with Private Access Tokens.

According to a video on Apple’s website demonstrating Private Access Tokens, websites that support the token will essentially log in and authenticate that you are indeed a human without your having to play any of the usual CAPTCHA games. Apple says in the video that the company is working with other companies to roll out support for this feature, so we can’t say the CAPTCHA will be dead after iOS 16 rolls out to the public. But the concept could provide some relief if it gets adopted.

Wallet and Apple Pay Later

ID cards from more states will be available in your Wallet app along with more security and privacy features. In iOS 16 you can also protect your identity and age. So rather than showing your exact birth date, the Wallet app will display your ID and that you’re over 21.

iOS 16 makes sharing keys easier with apps like Mail and Messages. When your friend receives the key, they can add it to the Wallet app on their iPhone. Apple said it’s working to make sure that shared keys are an industry standard and free for others.

Apple Pay will support new types of payments and adds a new feature called Apple Pay Later, a Klarna-like service that lets you split the cost of an Apple Pay purchase into four equal payments spread over six weeks, with zero interest and no fees. Upcoming payments are managed through the Wallet app, making it easy to keep track of dates and payments.

But Apple Pay doesn’t stop there. A new feature will also help you track Apple Pay orders and lets merchants deliver detailed receipts and tracking information. This should make it easier to stay up to date on the status of all your orders.

Visual Look Up’s tap and drag for photos

In iOS 15, Visual Look Up analyzes your photos and can identify objects like plants, landmarks and pets. iOS 16 takes this to the next level. When you touch a photo’s subject like the dog in the image above, you can lift it away from the background and add it to apps like Messages. Essentially it’s a tap-and-hold tool that removes a photo’s background.

Apple sometimes overuses the word “magic,” but this feature truly seems like it.

SharePlay comes to Messages

SharePlay, which debuted in iOS 15, lets you have a shared experience while connecting with someone over FaceTime. You can watch TV shows, listen to music in sync and other things. iOS 16 adds the ability to discover more apps that support SharePlay from within FaceTime.

But perhaps one of the coolest things Apple did for SharePlay was to make it work within the Messages app. Apple said that this was one of the biggest requests from app developers. Now when you want to share a movie on Disney Plus, you can start SharePlay together with a friend while chatting in Messages.

Safety Check aims to help people in abusive relationships

Safety Check is a new feature intended to be helpful for people in abusive relationships. It lets you review and reset who has access to location information as well as passwords, messages and other apps on an iPhone.

Focus mode updates and Focus filters

Focus mode gets several updates. The first applies Focus behaviors to widgets and lock screen looks. So you could have one lock screen set for when your Work Focus is enabled and another for workouts.

Apple added specific Focus filters that apply your iPhone’s Focus mode within apps. For example, in Safari, you can limit what tabs are shown depending on what Focus mode you have active.

Apple Maps adds transit fare cards

Maps gets several updates. You’ll be able to plan trips with up to 15 different stops along the way. If you start planning a trip with the Maps app on your Mac, you’ll be able to share that to your iPhone.

And in something similar to what Google announced for Google Wallet in Android 13, you’ll be able to see transit fare estimates as well as add more money to a fare card from within Apple Maps.

iCloud family checklist

iCloud gets several new features. One of the more interesting ones is the option to quickly set up a new device for your child. When Quick Start appears, you have the option to pick a user for the new device and use all the existing parental controls you’ve previously selected and configured. However, this is not what many of us still want: the ability to set up separate users for the same device.

There’s a new family checklist with tips for updating settings for your kids as they get older, like a reminder to check location-sharing settings or share your iCloud Plus subscriptions.

For more, check out everything Apple announced at its Sept. 7 “Far Out” event. Plus, here’s how to download iOS 16.

There’s a lot of important digital information on your devices these days, and you’ll want to protect it. That includes making sure it’s safe from hackers and prying eyes, but you’ll also want to store your files somewhere that’s not at risk of getting damaged or corrupted. And that’s especially true if you need to take them on the go with you. If you’re looking for a portable storage drive that offers serious protection, you’ll want to consider the Samsung T7 Shield — and right now you can pick one up at an all-time low price.

CNET reviewer Joshua Goldman was pretty impressed with the T7 Shield thanks to its ultracompact design and impressive durability. It’s a portable solid-state drive that’s roughly the size of a credit card, and right now you can pick up the 1TB model for $89, $71 off and the lowest we’ve seen it go at Amazon. Or you can get the 2TB model for $150. This same deal (well, a buck more) is also available at Samsung directly, as well as B&H and Best Buy. It’s also worth noting that the standard T7, which is slimmer but not quite as durable, is available for $90 right now as well.

With an IP65 weather-resistance rating, it’s protected against both water and dust, and thanks to its elastomer exterior it can survive drops of up to 3 meters. It boasts speedy performance too, with data transfer speeds of up to 1,050 MB per second. It uses a USB-C connection and is compatible with Mac, Windows and Android devices. There’s no set expiration on this deal, so there’s no telling how long it will remain available.

Starfield from Bethesda Game Studios has an official release date of Sept. 6, almost a year after its initial planned release date of last November.

Game director Todd Howard revealed the date in a video tweeted by the studio Wednesday. Along with the launch day for the game, Howard also says there will be a Starfield Direct event on June 11 where more of the game will be shown.

Starfield is a sci-fi RPG with players exploring an entire galaxy. There will be more than 1,000 planets and 100 star systems available to journey to in the game.

Bethesda originally teased Starfield back in 2018 during E3. It was initially planned for a November 2022 release, but was pushed back into 2023 to put it along with other major titles coming out this year. Starfield will likely cost $70 and will be released for PC and for the Xbox Series X|S.

With inflation on the rise, it’s important to budget for all the essentials. It can be tempting to use a free VPN for this reason as most people don’t think it’s a necessity. While that’s technically true, you really shouldn’t compromise your privacy and safety. That’s why we’d recommend steering clear of the vast majority of free virtual private networks, which are typically less safe. You can, however, still get a cheap VPN service that’s high-quality, fast and affordable.

A number of cheap VPN services offer a speedy connection, strong security and a wide array of privacy features — all for less than half the cost of a premium VPN service. You can even hook up your phone or tablet for secure browsing on your mobile device. Each of these cheap VPN services offers monthly pricing options, or if you prefer, you can pay in one lump sum for an entire year.We’ve spent countless hours testing these cheap VPN providers and have compiled a list of great budget-friendly choices.

Since the VPN market is constantly evolving and VPN services change rapidly, we advise against signing up for a subscription that lasts two years or longer. Instead, we recommend sticking with the plans that are cheapest based on their one-year or one-month rates and have the best money-back guarantees.While a lot of VPN providers offer better month-to-dollar value when you go for these long-term plans, you should avoid those kinds of lengthy VPN commitments. Check out our list of the best cheap VPN services of 2023.

Watch this: Top 5 Reasons to Use a VPN

Surfshark

Surfshark

• Latest tests: Zero data leaks, 19% internet speed loss in fall 2022 tests
• Network: 3,200-plus in 99 countries
• Jurisdiction: Netherlands
• Price: Unlimited connections for $48 for the first year (then $60 annually) or $13 per month. 2-year subscriptions available.

Surfshark earned CNET’s Editors’ Choice for best value VPN in 2022. It offers solid privacy and security features, a polished interface, unlimited simultaneous connections, fast speeds and an impressive global network of VPN servers at a price that’s considerably lower than many of its top competitors.

For $60 annually — following an introductory $48 for the first year — Surfshark offers ad and malware protection, camouflage mode, split tunneling and multihop connections along with industry-standard features like DNS leak protection, AES 256-bit encryption and a kill switch. Surfshark’s apps have been independently audited by cybersecurity professionals and the provider says it doesn’t keep any logs of its users’ online activity. The company is also working on rolling out what it calls its ‘Nexus Network’ which promises to enhance user privacy even further with features like Dynamic MultiHop, IP Randomizer and IP Rotator.

Surfshark is a cost-effective option for people who want added layers of security and a variety of ways to bolster their online privacy with their VPN. And if Surfshark’s Nexus Network proves as effective as promised, the VPN could be an excellent choice for users with critical privacy needs.

Surfshark also works well for users simply looking to unblock geographically restricted content around the world. With servers spanning 99 different countries, the company has a network that is fast enough to handle data-heavy activities like streaming video in HD. Surfshark can help you unblock multiple Netflix libraries and other streaming services like Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max. We had a little bit of trouble accessing Disney Plus, but after some trial and error on a few servers, we were able to access the streaming platform.

You can get a seven-day free trial on Android, iOS and MacOS if you sign up through Google’s Play Store or Apple’s App Store. But if you’ve purchased Surfshark and you’re not satisfied with the service for any reason, the VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our Surfshark VPN review.

Surfshark VPN

• Best value VPN in 2022
• Lots of unique security features
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• RAM-only server network

82% off with 24-mo plan (+2 free months)

$2.49/mo + 2 months free at Surfshark

Proton VPN

Proton VPN

• Latest tests: No leaks detected, 17% speed loss in fall 2022 tests
• Network: 1,859 servers in 67 countries
• Jurisdiction: Switzerland
• Price: $72 for the yearly plan or $10 per month

Proton VPN is a VPN product developed by the Swiss-based company behind the popular secure email service Proton Mail. The VPN has built a reputation for top-notch security and maximum transparency. Proton VPN’s apps fully open-source, and the software is also regularly audited to help affirm the security of the VPN for users without the time or know-how to inspect the code.

On top of security features like a kill switch and DNS leak protection, Proton VPN offers extras like a malware protection, Tor over VPN and a stealth protocol to help hide the fact that you’re using a VPN. And if you connect to Proton VPN’s Secure Core servers, you’ll be able to route your traffic through secure data centers located in Switzerland, Sweden or Iceland before exiting through another location. This provides a critical extra layer of security if you’re a user with heightened privacy needs.

Proton VPN is currently the third-fastest VPN we’ve tested, and does well to unblock content from various streaming providers, including Netflix.

And while it’s not the cheapest in this list, Proton VPN is cheaper than IPVanish in the long run if you decide to stick with the provider for more than a year. For $72 per year or $10 per month, Proton VPN offers 10 simultaneous connections and 1,800-plus servers in 67 countries. You can get a full refund within 30 days of purchase if you’re not satisfied.

Proton VPN also makes our list of best cheap VPNs thanks to its impressive free tier. Proton’s free VPN doesn’t include torrenting support or access to its Secure Core servers, but it doesn’t limit speed, data or usage time. Free users are allotted one connection at a time and access to about 100 servers in three countries (US, NL, JP).

Read our ProtonVPN review.

ProtonVPN

• Highly transparent
• Open-source
• Secure
• Unlimited free plan

50% off with 24-mo plan

$4.99/mo at ProtonVPN

IPVanish

IPVanish

• Latest tests: No leaks, 58% speed loss in spring 2022 tests
• Network: 2,000-plus servers in 75 locations across 52 countries
• Jurisdiction: United States
• Price: Unlimited connections for $12 per month, $30 quarterly or $48 for a year ($90 annually after the first year)

It’s not the fastest VPN on the planet, but IPVanish is an excellent VPN for casual users that offers plenty of speed for activities like streaming and video conferencing. However, in our tests, we did experience issues with the Quick Connect feature, which didn’t always connect us to the fastest server available. If you’re looking for the fastest server, we recommend connecting manually based on the current server load readings displayed in the Locations section of the IPVanish app.

IPVanish’s introductory annual rate matches Surfshark’s $48 for the first year, but jumps to $90 after that. Unlike most other VPN providers, IPVanish also offers a quarterly subscription plan at $30 every three months. The provider’s 30-day money-back guarantee only applies if you purchase a yearly plan, though, so you would be out of luck if you purchase a monthly or quarterly subscription and decide the service isn’t right for you. Other providers have more lenient free trial offers.

IPVanish joins Surfshark as one of the only VPN providers that offers unlimited simultaneous connections, so it’s a good option if you have a large family or a lot of devices you want to secure at once with a single VPN account. The VPN kill switch worked well during our tests and the newly redesigned apps were a breeze to use. With IPVanish, you’ll get access to more than 2,000 servers in over 75 locations as well as 24/7 support via live chat, email or phone.

Read our IPVanish review.

IPVanish

• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Simple, user-friendly interface
• Competitive speeds
• 24/7 customer support with live chat and phone support

66% off with 12-mo plan

$12 at IPVanish VPN

Mullvad

Mullvad VPN

• Latest tests: No leaks, 23% speed loss in spring 2022 tests
• Network: 893 servers in 39 countries
• Jurisdiction: Sweden
• Price: $5 per month

Along with Proton VPN, Mullvad is another open-source VPN provider that offers its services at a competitive rate. Mullvad’s simple pricing structure is vastly different than most others. The service costs $5 per month, whether you use it for a month, a year, 10 years or longer. Mullvad doesn’t offer any sales or discounts of any sort at any time of the year — just a flat $5 fee for however many months you want to use it. That comes out to $60 for a year, which matches Surfshark for the cheapest annual price in this list when not taking introductory prices into consideration.

And because Mullvad says it strives to know as little about its customers as possible, it has completely done away with recurring subscriptions so it cannot hang onto payment data longer than absolutely necessary. You can even mail Mullvad an envelope with cash to pay for the service. Mullvad automatically generates a random 16-digit account number when you sign up and you can prepay for one, two, three, six or 12 months at a time. The company is so focused on security and privacy that you don’t have to enter any personal data whatsoever at signup — no email or username required.

DNS leak protection and the kill switch are enabled by default and cannot be disabled. Other security features include split tunneling (but only on Windows, Linux and Android devices), ad and tracker blocking and multi-hop connections. Mullvad also offers a Shadowsocks proxy to help users bypass firewalls and evade internet censorship.

On top of being secure, Mullvad is fast, dropping only 23% of our regular internet speed in our latest tests. However, it isn’t optimized for streaming geo-restricted content internationally. We were able to access Netflix, but not Disney Plus when connected to Mullvad servers during our tests.

The apps are polished and user-friendly, though, so beginners and casual users shouldn’t have any issues using the service even if it is geared a bit more toward the techie crowd. Mullvad is a well-established VPN provider that’s been around since 2009, well before any other VPN that made this list. It’s an excellent option for budget-conscious VPN users who value extra attention to privacy and appreciate simplicity and straightforwardness. Read our Mullvad VPN review.

See at Mullvad

For more, check out how to choose the right VPN provider for working from home, red flags to watch out for when choosing a VPN service, and seven Android VPN apps to avoid on your mobile device because of their privacy sins.

More VPN recommendations

• Best iPhone VPNs of 2023
• Best VPN for Mac in 2023
• Browser-Based VPNs: 3 to Try if You Want to Improve Online Privacy

• CyberGhost VPN vs. Surfshark VPN: Speed, Security and Price Compared
• Best VPNs for Xbox in 2023: Top Picks by Our VPN Experts

• Best VPN Service for Amazon Fire TV Stick 2023

In February, Google announced the first preview release of Android 14 for developers, with new swipe gestures, app cloning for multiple accounts, support for the latest PS5 controllers, more secure sign-in options using passkeys and more. If you’re interested in testing out new software for Android, you can download and install the latest developer preview — Android 14 Developer Preview 2 — right now.

Google plans to release preview versions of Android 14 throughout much of 2023, with several developer previews in the winter, beta releases in the spring and summer and the final release sometime in the fall. While these prerelease versions of Android 14 are mainly intended for developers to try out upcoming features that are in the works, even if you’re not a developer, you can still get your hands on this version of Android 14 right now.

As long as you have a compatible phone — which currently means it has to be one of several Google Pixel phones — you can connect your device to your computer and use Google’s Android Flash Tool to download and install the Android 14 Developer Preview pretty easily.

It’s important to note that, like all prerelease software, the Android 14 Developer Preview may be unstable at times, so if you still want to install it, it’s preferable to do so on a backup phone if you have one available, and not on your primary device. There could be bugs and other issues that break functionality, so don’t try this on a phone you depend on.

If you’re OK with taking on that risk, here’s how to download and install the Android 14 Developer Preview on your phone.

In the market for a new Android phone? Check out the best deals on the Google Pixel and the Android phones you should purchase in 2023.

Note: If you already have Android 14 Developer Preview 1, just go to Settings > System > System Update and update over the air. If you don’t have Android 14, follow the steps below.

Which phones is the Android 14 Developer Preview available for?

Google is expected to release Android 14 this fall. At that time, it will be available on a wide variety of Android phones, but for now you can only install the Android 14 Developer Preview on compatible Pixel devices:

• Pixel 4A 5G
• Pixel 5
• Pixel 5A
• Pixel 6
• Pixel 6 Pro
• Pixel 6A
• Pixel 7
• Pixel 7 Pro

If your device is not on this list, you’ll have to wait for later releases of Android 14, whether it’s the public beta or the public release. It’s also possible that other phones will get access to the developer preview or a beta release at a later date.

Back up your Android device first

If you have a compatible Android device, you’ll now need to back up your phone. By default, your Pixel should back up automatically whenever you’re connected to Wi-Fi and your phone has been idle and charging for 2 hours, but you can also do it manually. Depending on the size of your phone backup, you may need a paid version of Google One for this method, but if not, Google Drive should be fine.

To back up your Pixel, go to Settings > Google > Backup and tap Back up now. Depending on the last backup and how many apps and files need to be backed up, this process can take up to several minutes. Once you’re backed up, you’re ready to begin the process of downloading and installing Android 14.

Now you’ll need to enable USB debugging and OEM unlocking

To install Android 14 on your Pixel, you’ll need to connect the phone to a computer via USB, and that requires that your Pixel be unlocked and have USB debugging enabled. Although unlocking your phone is easy enough, to enable USB debugging you’ll need to first unlock Developer options.

1. To unlock Developer options, go to Settings > About phone and then tap Build number seven times. Enter your password when prompted, and a new Developer options menu will appear in your System settings.

2. Now, enable USB debugging. Go to Settings > System > Developer options and toggle on USB debugging. In the notification that appears, which briefly describes what USB debugging is meant for, tap OK.

3. While you’re still in Developer options, toggle on OEM unlocking. This unlocks your device’s bootloader, which is what loads the operating system. Once unlocked, you’ll be able to choose a different operating system to boot up, in this case Android 14.

Flash your device using Android Flash Tool in Chrome

You have two ways to flash the Android 14 Developer Preview system image on your Pixel using your computer, but for the sake of simplicity, we’ll be using the Android Flash Tool, which works only with certain web browsers, including Chrome. Also, your computer must have 10GB of available storage for this to work.

If everything is good, connect your Pixel to your computer via USB, unlock your device and go to the Android Flash Tool website in Chrome and do the following:

1. First, click Get Started at the bottom of the website.

2. Next, click Allow ADB access in the pop-up that appears (if there are any ad blockers, turn them off).

3. Now click Add new device, choose your device from the list and hit Connect.

4. On your Pixel, check the box next to Always allow from this computer and then tap Allow to give Android Flash Tool access to your phone.

5. Back on your computer, click Developer Preview 2 under Popular builds.

6. Click Install build and then click Confirm.

The pop-up will warn you that installing Android 14 will factory-reset your phone, but that’s not an issue if you backed up your Pixel. If you haven’t done that, back up now. Also, make sure not to touch your phone or disconnect it from the computer during this process, or else it could brick the phone (make it unresponsive and useless). If you receive another pop-up on your computer that mentions accepting the Android 14 build, do so to continue the process.

Now do the following:

1. Hit Start on the pop-up that appears on your computer.

2. Back on your Pixel, use the volume keys to choose Unlock the bootloader and then hit the side key, which will cause your phone to restart.

3. The software will begin to download, which can take a few minutes, depending on your internet connection.

4. Once the installation process is complete, click Start in the pop-up that appears on your computer.

5. Again, back on your Pixel, use the volume keys to switch to Lock the bootloader and then hit the side key.

6. And finally, on your computer, hit Done and your phone will restart like normal.

The Android 14 Developer Preview should now be installed on your phone. You can safely disconnect your Pixel from your computer.

You can now use Android 14 on your Pixel

Once your Pixel boots back up, you’ll see a notification that says you’re now running the Android 14 Developer Preview. Hit OK and then set up your phone just as you would a brand-new phone, which means connecting to Wi-Fi, copying over apps and data from your latest backup via Google, agreeing to terms and conditions, setting up a password and so on.

Have an older Android? Check out 5 tips to make your Android phone feel like new again.

Meta is working on a way for you to view your messages from Messenger within the Facebook mobile app, according to a blog post from Facebook boss Tom Alison. Facebook reports that it has 2 billion active users who connect on its platform daily, and its team is working to enhance how people have online conversations.

The company is “testing the ability for people to access their Messenger inbox within the Facebook app,” Alison wrote. Facebook plans to expand testing in the coming months.

First launched in 2011 as part of Facebook’s functionality, Messenger was dropped from the social media platform and became a standalone app in 2014. Shortly after, it added the ability to share locations, handle voice calls and enable peer-to-peer payments.

Over the last decade, Messenger has received a variety of new features, including encrypted chats, custom emojis and video chats. Facebook has also been working to integrate and enhance multiapp communication among Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram. Those who use Messenger and Instagram can already contact each other with the direct messaging feature.

Meta says it also saw some success with community chats, a conversation feature that it rolled out to Facebook Groups in 2022. The company aims to fold in more messaging functionality within Facebook to make it easier for people to connect.

Noise-canceling headphones are great when you need to tune out the world around you and focus on the task at hand. And while some high-end models tend to be a little pricey, right now you can snag one of our favorite pairs for $100 less than the usual price — as long as you can live with a used pair. The Bose Noise Cancelling 700 headphones are on our list of the best over-ear models for 2023, despite being a few years old now, thanks to their top-of-the-line noise-canceling capabilities.

Right now at eBay, you can snag a refurbished pair for $279, which saves you $100 compared to shopping new. There’s no set expiration on this deal, but there is a limited supply available.

While these headphones are refurbished, they’re being sold directly by Bose and are in “pristine, like-new condition” and will come in the original packaging with all accessories. Essentially, they’re as close to new as you can get without actually being new, making them a pretty good bargain at $100 off.

These headphones allow you to fine-tune your noise canceling with 11 different levels to choose from — whether you need to stay aware of your surroundings or want to completely shut out the world around you. They also boast an immersive listening experience thanks to the customizable EQ and Bose’s patented TriPort acoustic structure that’s designed to maximize depth and detail. They’re extremely convenient, with intuitive touch controls, dedicated buttons to adjust noise cancellation and compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. And with an impressive 20-hour battery life, they can handle even the longest commutes and plane rides without having to recharge.

And if you’re looking for a different pair, you can check out our roundup of all the best headphone and earbud deals for even more bargains.

Whether you’re an avid reader who wants to take a library’s worth of books with you wherever you go or you just want to save some shelf space by switching to digital books, e-readers are for everyone. Amazon’s Kindle devices have remained one of the most popular e-reader options, and right now you can grab a refurbished ad-supported Kindle Paperwhite (2018) from Woot starting at just $40. This offer is available now through March 14 while supplies last.

This device is lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry with you or throw into a bag while you’re on the go. It has a 6-inch, 300-ppi touchscreen E Ink display. The screen is scratch-resistant and glare-free, so you should be able to read even in direct sunlight. And because this e-reader is rated IPX8 waterproof, you can take your device with you to read at the pool, at the beach or even in the tub. It also has Bluetooth so you can switch from reading to listening on speakers or headphones if you have an Audible account. You can adjust the text size, boldness and font to customize your reading experience. As for battery life, you can expect to get around six weeks of reading per charge with normal use.

Refurbished items are a great way to save a little cash, and Woot has both the 8GB and 32GB models of the 2018 Kindle Paperwhite available in “like new” condition, which means they have been tested to be in full working condition and have minimal wear and tear. Your purchase will also come with a 90-day Woot limited warranty, just in case.

Note that this model is ad-supported, which means that you’ll have screensaver advertisements on the lock screen. Generally speaking, having offers show up when you’re not actively reading isn’t a problem for most people, but if you decide you no longer want to see them, you can always opt out via your Amazon account for a fee.

Noise-canceling headphones are an essential accessory for anyone that commutes, works in a loud environment or just wants to shut out distractions and focus on the music. Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 are our favorite noise-canceling earbuds, and right now you can snag a set at a huge discount via Verizon. With $49 off versus the Apple Store price, the second-gen AirPods Pro are down to within $1 of their lowest price ever and you don’t have to be an existing Verizon customer to get in on the savings.

The AirPods Pro 2 feature active noise cancelation that is twice as powerful as that of the first-gen model, adaptive transparency and personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking for immersive sound. They have four different-sized eartips and provide up to 6 hours of listening time, plus up to 24 hours extra listening time with the included case.

Touch controls let you swipe to adjust volume, press to control media playback, answer or end calls and switch between listening modes. The earbuds and charging case are both sweat- and water-resistant, making them ideal workout earbuds, and the charging case is MagSafe-compatible with a lanyard loop to help you not lose them. Find My support is built-in if you do, though.

Read more: Best AirPods Pro Accessories for 2023: Cases, Eartips, Wireless In-Flight Transmitters and Chargers

Google I/O 2023, the company’s midyear software show, is set to take place in person on May 10, giving developers and enthusiasts a sneak peek at what’s coming across Android, Search, Maps and plenty of other products.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and its parent company Alphabet, is expected to kick off the first of several keynote presentations from the Shoreline Amphitheater. Though the event is geared toward developers and media, all the keynote events will be streamed online for folks watching at home.

As is tradition, Google had teased the event with a puzzle for fans to solve before the launch date would be revealed. This year’s was a big binary field for eager viewers to filter into a final message.