Category: Technologies

Apple debuted the Apple Watch Ultra 2 ($799, 799, AU$1,399) at the company’s iPhone 15 event in Sept. 2023. The rugged new watch replaces last year’s Apple Watch Ultra.

While the new Ultra looks similar to the original, there are a number of improvements inside the watch that are worth noting. The Ultra 2 has a 3,000-nit screen, which should be noticeably brighter than the original Ultra’s 2,000-nit display. The Ultra 2 also includes the new Double Tap gesture, which lets you activate certain controls by tapping your thumb and index finger together without touching the watch’s screen.

Otherwise this year’s Ultra includes many of the same features as the first. This includes a new Night mode that will be on a Wayfinder watch face, which uses an ambient light sensor to activate. Both watches also continue to have an estimated 36-hour battery life.

To see the differences between the original Apple Watch Ultra and the new Apple Watch Ultra 2, we’ve outlined each watch’s specs in the below chart.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Apple Watch Ultra

	Apple Watch Ultra 2	Apple Watch Ultra
Shape	Square	Square
Watch size	49mm	49mm
Materials, finishes	Titanium	Titanium
Display size, resolution	1.91-inch, 502×410-pixel OLED	1.91-inch, 502×410-pixel OLED
Dimensions	44x49x14.4 mm	49x44x14.4mm
Weight	61.4g	61.3g
Colors	Natural titanium	Natural titanium
Always On	Yes	Yes
Interchangable bands	Yes	Yes
GPS	Yes (L1 and L5)	Yes
Automatic workout detection	Yes	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes
Altimeter	Yes (operating range: -500m to 9,000m)	Yes
Water resistance	10ATM (100 meters) and recreational scuba diving up to 40 meters	Yes, up to 100m
Calls	Yes	Yes
Microphone	Yes (3-mic array)	Yes
Speaker	Yes	Yes
Voice assistant	Yes (Siri, on-device)	Yes (Siri)
Mobile Payments	Yes (Apple Pay)	Yes (Apple Pay)
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes
Period tracking	Yes	Yes
Sensors	SPo2 (blood oxygen), ECG, optical heart, ambient light, high dynamic range gyroscope, high-g accelerometer, water temperature, depth gauge + app	SPo2 (blood oxygen), ECG, optical heart, ambient light, high dynamic range gyroscope, high-g accelerometer, water temperature, depth gauge + app
Emergency features	International emergency calling, Emergency SOS, crash detection	International emergency calling, Emergency SOS, crash detection
Compatibility	iOS 17	iOS 16
Software	WatchOS 10	WatchOS 9
Processor	Apple S9	S8 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor
Connectivity	LTE and UMTS, Wi-Fi 4, Bluetooth 5.3	LTE and UMTS, Wi-FI
Memory and storage	64GB	64GB
Power	USB-C magnetic fast charging	USB-C magnetic fast charging
Battery life	Up to 36 hours; up to 72 hours (low power mode)	36-hour battery life, 18 hours on LTE
Battery capacity	Unavailable	Unavailable
Price (USD)	$799	$799
Price (GBP)	799	849
Price (AUD)	AU$1,399	AU$1,299

Liverpool host Austrian side LASK today in their penultimate UEFA Europa League group stage fixture, with the home team looking to secure their place in the knockout stages.

The Merseysiders had been expected to confirm their spot in the round of 16 in Matchday 4, but slipped to a surprise 3-2 defeat to Toulouse.

They now get a second bite of the cherry as they face a LASK side that pushed them close in the opening stages of the reverse fixture on Matchday 1 before the English Premier League side eventually eased their way to a 3-1 victory.

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

Liverpool vs. LASK: When and where?

Liverpool host LASK at Anfield on Thursday, Nov. 30. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. GMT local time in the UK (3 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 7 a.m. AEST on Friday, Dec. 1 in Australia).

How to watch Liverpool vs. LASKonline from anywhere using a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view Europa League matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the action — 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, nonblackout 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 Liverpool vs. LASKin the US

American soccer fans can stream this fixture via Paramount Plus, which has exclusive live English-language broadcast rights in the US for the Europa League.

Livestream Liverpool vs. LASKin the UK

Europa League live broadcast rights in the UK are held by TNT Sports (formerly known as BT Sport).

Livestream Liverpool vs. LASKin Canada

If you want to stream Europa League games live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to DAZN Canada. The service has exclusive broadcast rights to the tournament this season.

Livestream Liverpool vs. LASKin Australia

Football fans Down Under can watch Europa League matches on streaming service Stan Sport, which has exclusive rights to show the competition live in Australia this season.

Quick tips for streaming UEFA Europa League matches using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming Europa League games 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.

In the past, Peacock provided a free subscription tier that granted users access to their extensive collection of shows, movies, sports and originals. However, new users are now limited to premium membership to enjoy its programming.

This streaming service is the exclusive home of Universal films, NBC series and Bravo hits, but in order to stream new theatrical releases, and shows like The Voice, Poker Face, Yellowstone, Bel-Air, Premier League matches, WWE and other content in full, you need a Peacock Premium subscription.

Two paid tiers are available: ad-based Peacock Premium, at $6 a month, and Premium Plus, the ad-free version that costs $12 monthly. However, if you use certain cable companies or have Instacart, you could take advantage of discounts on the price of Peacock — or even get Peacock Premium free.

Peacock provides Comcast Xfinity internet subscribers and Instacart Plus users a basic premium account if they’re eligible. Meanwhile, Spectrum video and broadband customers get an extended free trial of Peacock, thanks to a deal with parent company Charter Communications. Qualified Spectrum TV customers get a yearlong free trial, and qualified Spectrum internet customers get 90 days.

Here’s how to snag a deal.

Instacart Plus shoppers get free Peacock

The companies recently announced a joint venture making Peacock the first streaming partnership for the digital shopping platform. Instacart Plus members in the US can receive a free Peacock Premium subscription as a membership perk. Instacart Plus costs $10 per month — or $100 per year — and grants members unlimited fast, free delivery on orders over $35. Sign up for Peacock via the Instacart app.

Spectrum offers 3 or 12 months for free

Spectrum’s deal applies to Spectrum TV customers for 12 months (with the exception of Basic or TV Essentials tier plans) and Spectrum internet users for three months. New Peacock Premium subscribers can sign up for the Spectrum deal on Peacock’s website, but existing Peacock customers will have to cancel their current subscriptions to sign up for this offer. Visit Peacock’s help center for instructions on how to switch.

If you cancel your Spectrum TV service during the free 12-month period, your Peacock Premium will be unlinked and canceled. But if you have Spectrum internet in addition to the cable TV service, you can link your Spectrum account to Peacock Premium for the 90-day access deal. This doesn’t apply to customers who only have Spectrum internet. If you disconnect internet service during the 90-day promotional period, your Peacock Premium will be canceled. This offer is valid until Dec. 7, 2023.

Peacock Premium for Xfinity internet subscribers

If you have Xfinity internet and sign up for Comcast’s NOW TV streaming service, you’re eligible for a free Peacock Premium subscription. NOW TV is a new streaming platform that includes more than 40 live channels from A&E, AMC and Warner Bros. Discovery, as well as 20-plus integrated FAST channels from NBC, Sky and Xumo Play, and a subscription to Peacock Premium at no additional cost. NOW costs $20 a month, doesn’t require equipment and can be canceled anytime.

Xfinity internet customers can sign up for NOW TV through Xfinity’s website. You can activate your Peacock Premium subscription via email after setting up NOW or by logging in to your account.

Additionally, if you’re a Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards member or have Gigabit or Gigabit+ speed service, you’re eligible for Peacock Premium at no cost.

Though the ad-supported Peacock Premium is available for free with these deals, you can always upgrade your account to Premium Plus for an ad-free viewing experience at an additional cost.

The popularity of virtual private networks has grown in recent years as people have become more aware of how their activities are being constantly tracked and sold for profit by their internet service providers and others.

Other people are also using VPNs to get past geographic restrictions that would otherwise keep them from watching their favorite TV shows or sporting events.

If you fall into one or both of these camps, you might be thinking about signing up for a VPN, too. You also might be wondering if it’s something you actually need to pay for, given that there are countless free VPNs available for download.

But security experts warn that, as the old saying goes, few things in life are actually free — and that’s especially true when it comes to VPNs.

“If something like this is free, then the user is the product,” said Iskander Sanchez-Rola, director of privacy innovation for Gen, the parent company of the Norton 360 consumer security software, most versions of which includes a paid VPN.

“Don’t get a VPN just because it’s cheap or free or gives you a few free months of service. It’s important to do your research and know what you’re signing up for.”

So what does paying for a VPN actually get you? Here’s a look at the big differences between paid and free versions of the products.

More features

Legitimate VPN companies may offer a free version as a way to get you interested and eventually upgrade to the paid version down the road. But just like with other kinds of software, what you get could be bare bones. It might be slower than you would like or cap your data at a frustratingly low level.

For some people who only use a VPN from time to time, a very limited free version might be enough. That could be especially true for people who are primarily looking to watch out-of-market TV than actually protect their data and privacy.

Just remember, you get what you pay for. The only free VPN that CNET’s testers have found to be worth using is ProtonVPN. Unlike with other free VPNs, there are no limits on data, usage time or connection speeds. It also delivers the same level of encryption as Proton’s paid versions. Our testers say it’s also fast and works well with streaming services.

On the downside, it only has access to three server locations and doesn’t include the full suite of features you get with a paid subscription that currently starts at $10 a month.

More privacy?

There’s no guarantee that any VPN, no matter how much you pay for it or what the company promises you, will keep your data private. By design, VPNs collect all of your internet traffic and data, and there’s no way to see what they do with it after that.

If a VPN is free, you know that they’re doing everything they can to monetize all of the personal data that travels between you and its servers, says Chester Wisniewski, director and global field chief technology officer for the cybersecurity company Sophos.

“The question is do you trust a random company that may or may not be in Cyprus more than you trust Comcast,” he said. “And for a lot of people that may be a hard question to answer.

“You’re shifting your trust, you’re not making yourself truly private.”

With any product like this you should carefully read the company’s privacy policy and user agreement before signing up. If either of those statements mention that they sell user data even in anonymized form, you might want to think twice.

For many people, Wisniewski says, the Tor browser can be useful. Typically associated with the “dark web”, you can use it pretty much like any other browser. It’s a bit clunky and too slow for streaming, but it’s free and doesn’t require users to sign up or put their trust in a company, he says.

And if you’re someone for whom security is paramount, like a human rights activist, political dissident, journalist or business person working in a country prone to government online snooping, never roll the dice on a free VPN. It’s just not worth the risk.

When it comes to paid options, choose a VPN headquartered outside of the country you’re currently in, and avoid choosing a VPN with a presence in an allied country. Encryption is critical, too. Your VPN should offer a protocol called OpenVPN TCP, while IKEv2 also is fine for mobile apps.

Potential for scams

There are scammy VPNs out there that go beyond the mere selling of your data for profit. In the past researchers have spotted fake VPN apps in both the Apple and Google stores that were designed to spread malware.

Other sketchy VPNs “fleece” consumers by charging a ridiculous amount of money for them, often after a free trial period, while others charge consumers more reasonable fees, but just don’t work.

Signing up for a paid VPN run by a reputable company you’ve actually heard of doesn’t guarantee its legitimacy, but the VPNs that advertise on illegal gambling websites or offer access to adult content probably should be avoided, Wisniewski says.

Free or paid, do I really need a VPN?

Experts have a variety of opinions about this. Sanchez-Rola says that while the potential for a cybercriminal to attack an average person’s laptop or phone is remote, it’s still possible, especially in places packed with people connected to the internet like a shopping mall or airport.

In addition, a VPN would protect someone who accidentally connects to malicious Wi-Fi, scrambling their data and making it useless if captured.

But Wisniewski argues that those scenarios aren’t realistic, especially when just about all web traffic is already encrypted these days. He takes issue with the marketing used by some VPN providers that make it sound like evil hackers are just waiting to steal the average person’s identities and life savings if they don’t use a VPN.

He also worries that people will think that a VPN is a “cloak” that will just make their data disappear and solve all of their security problems.

“They’re in danger of becoming obsessed with the wrong thing,” he said, noting that good security practices like setting strong passwords and making sure devices are up to date are much more important for regular people.

“Do the basics really well and then just go live your life and stop panicking,” Wisniewski said.

Having a little peace of mind can go a long way toward making you feel secure, and that goes for online protection as well. Subscribing to an antivirus service can help protect your devices and digital assets from viruses, scammers and more. And while these services can cost a pretty penny, right now you can score up to 30% off select McAfee antivirus plans. This lingering Cyber Monday deal ends tomorrow, Dec. 1, at 9 a.m. PT (noon ET), so be sure to sign up before then if you want to take advantage of these price cuts.

McAfee earned a spot on our roundup of the best antivirus software for 2023 thanks to its full deck of protection features that can keep you safe online. Annual plans include a firewall against hackers, with protections against viruses and ransomware, as well as warding off malicious websites and more.

You can save $140 on the Advanced and Ultimate individual plans, dropping the price to $60 or $140, respectively. Or snag a discount of $190 off the Advanced family plan, which drops the price to just $80 and includes parental controls and protects up to six family members. You’ll also get access to identity monitoring and credit monitoring, an unlimited VPN, personal data cleanup and much more. Other plans are also discounted right now, so if you just want a basic protection service and are looking for a low-cost option, McAfee has knocked $80 off the Essential plan, which means you’ll pay just $40 for a year.

McAfee works on all of your most used devices, including laptops, desktops, tablets and mobile devices, including both iOS and Android models, but you can check operating system compatibility on McAfee’s website. Just note that your plan will auto-renew at full price, but you can cancel your subscription anytime.

Many organizations rely on Office apps, but when you’re away from work or school, getting access on your own can get expensive. In fact, grabbing an Office Pro 2021 license will run you $440 when you buy from Microsoft directly. If you’re looking for a deal to get the apps you need without a monthly Microsoft 365 subscription, StackSocial has you covered with this Cyber Monday deal. Right now Office 2019 is available for both Windows and Mac for just $40 — that’s a $189 savings. StackSocial doesn’t say when this offer will end, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later if you want to score it at this price.

Mac users will get the basic Home and Business suite of apps, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams and OneNote, while Windows users will get the Professional version. That includes the same apps as the Mac version, with the exception of Teams — however, it does add Publisher and Access to round out the suite.

This isn’t the latest version of Office, but compared to signing up for the Microsoft 365 subscription suite, which costs $7 a month or $70 a year for individuals, StackSocial’s offer is a great deal. There is a free online version of Microsoft Office out there that you can utilize, but it lacks several features, so this may be a better option. Also, Apple users should note that Outlook is now available as a free app for the Mac.

Some important things to note — you’ll get a one-time use code for a single computer, which means you won’t be able to download these apps on multiple devices. And that does mean that if you upgrade to a new computer or your current one dies, you likely won’t be able to transfer the suite. These licenses also lack some of the added conveniences you’ll get with a 365 subscription, including OneDrive cloud storage and cloud-based AI features, including Microsoft Copilot. Additionally, these apps should work for as long as your computer does, but the Mac license has reached the end of its lifecycle, which means Microsoft’s support for this version of Office has ended. Windows users will have extended support through Oct. 14, 2025. There is also a risk that Microsoft could terminate the license at any time, but we’ve been running other versions of Office from StackSocial since early 2022 and have yet to encounter a problem.

Be sure to check system requirements before you make your purchase to ensure these will work on your device. And if you’re looking to upgrade your operating system, there is a bundled deal available that includes both Office Pro 2019 and Windows 11 Pro OS for just $10 more — but this offer expires Dec. 4.

Apple on Thursday released a short film promoting two of its iOS 17 features geared toward speech accessibility, Personal Voice and Live Speech.

Personal Voice lets users who are at risk of speech loss create a voice that sounds like them, and Live Speech will speak aloud typed-out phrases. The features can be useful for people who are nonspeaking, have diverse speech patterns or disabilities, or who are at risk of losing their ability to speak, such as those with conditions like muscular dystrophy or ALS.

In the short film, a young girl and her furry friend embark on a mission to find his missing voice. The ending centers on a touching moment between a father and daughter who utilize Apple’s speech accessibility features to communicate with each other. You can watch it on Apple’s YouTube channel or website.

The film is directed by Taika Waititi and stars Dr. Tristram Ingham as the father. Ingham is a real-life user of Personal Voice and a physician, associate professor and disability advocate from New Zealand. He has facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), which causes progressive muscle degeneration and can ultimately lead to speech loss.

Personal Voice lets him preserve the sound of his real voice. The feature uses on-device machine learning and is trained by having someone speak a series of text prompts aloud on an iPhone or iPad. (I’ve tried it, and the voice resemblance is uncanny and impressive.)

The other highlighted accessibility feature, Live Speech, is available on iPhone, iPad and Mac. It can be used for in-person conversations as well as over the phone and on FaceTime. For example, you could have it say, “Nice to meet you, I’m …” and introduce yourself, or save common phrases like “Can I please get a black coffee?”

The short film debuts ahead of International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec. 3, and reflects the growing efforts of tech companies like Apple, Google and Meta to make their platforms, products and services accessible to more people. Other features Apple debuted this year include Point and Speak, which lets users with vision disabilities point to objects with text labels and have their device read that text aloud, and Assistive Access, which is designed for people with cognitive disabilities and offers a more focused device interface to lighten cognitive load.

Music is an integral part of many people’s lives. Back in the day, the only way to stack-rank your most-listened-to groups was to do so mentally or just by looking at the posters on your walls and examining the wear patterns on your albums or CDs.

Leave it to the 21st century to codify our listening habits. On Wednesday, music-streaming service Spotify released its annual Spotify Wrapped lists, separating the casual music listeners from the obsessives, the Swifties from the Beatlemaniacs. You can find yours, if you’re a Spotify user, in the app or online.

Spotify Wrapped has been sorting (and judging?) our musical tastes since 2016, even if some people end up with a baby-calming hair dryer as their top artist. But every year, the company freshens the experience by adding some new features. Here’s a look at what’s offered, what’s new and how to rewatch your Spotify Wrapped.

Spotify Wrapped basics

You probably already have a sneaking suspicion, or super-strong feeling, about which artist or bands you listened to the most this year. But the fun of Spotify Wrapped is getting to confirm that, and maybe cringe if an uncool artist wrangled their way into your top five — or feel superior if your artists are all eclectic indie stars about to break out big. Hey, you knew them first.

Spotify Wrapped tells you how many songs you listened to in 2023, and goes into detail about the one you listened to most, including number of times you played that song and even the date you first listened to it. It also assembles a playlist of your top songs.

You can see how many minutes you listened to music and podcasts on Spotify this year and which day you tuned in for the longest amount of time. What exactly was I doing on May 8, anyway, that I had so much time to rock out?

The roundup lists how many different artists you listened to this year, and of course, highlights the musician who came out on top. Some artists, including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay, have also recorded short thank-you videos that pop up in your Wrapped roundup. You’re shown a list of your five top artists, plus, for some reason, the month that you listened to them the most. And for your top artist, it ranks you in their fandom, telling you if you’re in the top 20% of Taylor Swift listeners, for example.

Spotify also makes a list of your top five songs and tells you your preferred genre. Mine was simply “pop,” because I’m a Gen X mom. My Gen Z daughter’s was something called “pov: indie,” because she’s way hipper than I am.

Deals on exclusive merch

Because capitalism rules, and Spotify knows what a blockbuster of a thing it’s got going with Wrapped, there are now ways to shop your yearly roundup. In the Spotify app, you can scroll down past the promotion for Wrapped, collected thank-you videos from your top artists and other related items to a section labeled, “Merch from your 2023 faves.”

You might see a special deal on an album, or even a shirt or other item that’s labeled a Wrapped Exclusive. My daughter, a big Melanie Martinez fan, was offered links to buy a T-shirt and sweatshirt that were both marked as being “only for top fans.” Or you might see albums or items marked down if you’re a top fan.

New for Spotify Wrapped 2023: Sound Towns

Where do you live? No, not your address but musically. This year, Spotify Wrapped is assigning some listeners a Sound Town, which is a city somewhere in the world that supposedly matches your listening style. Sound Town should appear as the third entry for eligible users in their personalized Wrapped experience, beginning with “This year, your listening took you places…”

College towns, such as Eugene, Oregon, and Burlington, Vermont, were popular, but the US was far from the only country represented. Sound Towns were globally chosen, apparently, coming from Canada, India and Colombia, among other places.

Hey! Why didn’t I get a Sound Town?

I wasn’t assigned a Sound Town, and that’s because that not everyone’s listening habits make it easy to assign them a place.

To be eligible for a Sound Town, you have to have at least three top artists who “over-index” in a particular city, meaning that they have a larger-than-average presence there.

‘Me in 2023’ is also new to Spotify Wrapped

Spotify will also assign you a title for “Me in 2023,” based on your streaming habits.

The Me in 2023 streaming habits come from a list of 12 “characters,” including the vampire, the hypnotist, the time traveler, the fanatic and more. Each card summarizes that character’s listening habits, such as luminary (you play light, upbeat music more than others), alchemist (you create more playlists than others) and shapeshifter (you’re quick to move from one artist to the next).

Hey! Why didn’t I get a Me in 2023?

As with Sound Town, not everyone’s listening habits qualify them for an assigned Me in 2023 personality. For Me in 2023, users must meet criteria for at least one of the 12 characters.

As each character is unique, each Me in 2023 character has different requirements. For example, to receive the alchemist, a user must have at least 10 public playlists. If you don’t fit any of the criteria, your Wrapped roundup won’t assign you a character at all. (You’re not alone — I have no character and no Sound Town.)

AI DJ gets involved in Spotify Wrapped 2023

Spotify’s AI DJ, a personalized “host” that talks users through their favorite songs, also gets involved with Wrapped this year. For a week, the AI DJ will offer you commentary and playlists based on your Wrapped list. Fun tip: The DJ voice is modeled on that of Spotify’s head of cultural partnerships, Xavier “X” Jernigan.

How to share your results

Want to share your Spotify Wrapped on social media, and show your entire crowd what an Alex G fan you are? It’s simple to do. Once you’ve watched your Wrapped roundup, as you flick through your Wrapped report again, the option to share will show after certain stats about your listening. You can just click that “share” button to download your result, or post it directly to common social-media apps.

How to watch your Spotify Wrapped again

You can go back and rewatch your Spotify Wrapped roundup as many times as you want. If you prefer the app, just open that and you should see a giant colorful promo that you can click on to replay the whole thing.

You can also go to Spotify Wrapped on the web and replay your roundup there.

Who were the most streamed artists and songs of 2023?

Who’s number one overall for Spotify Wrapped this year? It’s me, hi, I’m the problem it’s me. Or her. It’s Taylor Swift, of course, with more than 26.1 billion global streams. Here are some stats from Spotify.

Most-streamed global artists

1. Taylor Swift
2. Bad Bunny
3. The Weeknd
4. Drake
5. Peso Pluma

Most-streamed US artists

1. Taylor Swift
2. Drake
3. Morgan Wallen
4. The Weeknd
5. Bad Bunny

Most-streamed global songs

1. Flowers, Miley Cyrus
2. Kill Bill, SZA
3. As It Was, Harry Styles
4. Seven, Jung Kook featuring Latto
5. Ella Baila Sola, Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma

Most-streamed US songs

1. Last Night, Morgan Wallen
2. Kill Bill, SZA
3. Flowers, Miley Cyrus
4. Ella Baila Sola, Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma
5. Boy’s a liar, Pt. 2, Pink Pantheress, Ice Spice

Most-streamed global albums

1. Un Verano Sin Ti, Bad Bunny
2. Midnights, Taylor Swift
3. SOS, SZA
4. Starboy, The Weeknd
5. Mañana Será Bonito, Karol G

Most-streamed US albums

1. One Thing at a Time, Morgan Wallen
2. SOS, SZA
3. Midnights, Taylor Swift
4. Heroes & Villains, Metro Boomin
5. Dangerous: The Double Album, Morgan Wallen

Other lists like Spotify Wrapped

Not everyone listens to Spotify, of course, and other streaming services have similar year-end lists. CNET has a guide to music streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and others. (But Spotify still tops our recommendations.)

Other music services do yearly wrapups, like the Apple Music Replay and YouTube Music Recap. But non-music companies are in on the fad too.

Nintendo Switch has featured a look at your year in gaming, and Strava and Fitbit have offered similar looks at your fitness year.

But possibly the weirdest one came from the world of fast food. For the last two years, MyMcDonald’s Rewards members were sent a customized email rounding up their year in McD food and assigning them a “fan persona.”

Starting Friday, Dec. 1, Google will begin deleting inactive Google accounts, including account contents such as photos, Gmail messages, Calendar appointments, Drive documents, Contacts records and YouTube videos.

An inactive Google account could include a Gmail address you used to subscribe to a newsletter, join an online forum or sign up for a shopping site — all in an effort to remain anonymous or avoid spammy messages in your main account.

If you’ve got old Google accounts you’d like to keep, here’s how to stop Google from deleting them. For more, check out how to log in to Google with a passkey, and discover 10 Gmail tips and tools to use daily.

Why is Google deleting inactive accounts?

If an account hasn’t been used for a while, Google said it’s more likely to be hacked: “This is because forgotten or unattended accounts often rely on old or re-used passwords that may have been compromised, haven’t had two factor authentication set up, and receive fewer security checks by the user.”

To reduce this risk, Google may delete an account and its contents if it hasn’t been used or signed into for at least two years. If you haven’t logged into an account since 2021, Google may get rid of it.

If you’re worried about someone grabbing your deleted account, rest easy: If Google deletes an inactive account, that Gmail address cannot be used again to create a new account, Google said.

How to keep your Google accounts

It’s not difficult to preserve your older Google accounts. You need to sign in at least once every two years. If you can’t remember whether you’ve done that, now’s the time.

There are several ways to keep your account active. Reading or sending an email, using Google Drive, watching a YouTube video, downloading an app on the Google Play Store, using Google search or using Google to sign in to a third-party app or service all count. And if you have a subscription set up through your Google account — for instance, to Google One, a news publication or an app — that’s also considered activity.

Note that only personal Google accounts are at risk of deletion, not business or school accounts.

When will Google start deleting accounts?

This week, starting Dec. 1. Google said it will send reminder emails to an account’s primary and recovery emails at least eight months before it takes action, alerting you about the possible deletion.

What if you forget your Google account username or password?

If you know you have an old Google account but can’t remember its details, you may still be able to recover it.

If you forgot your password, for example, you may be able to recover it using this Google password recovery tool. You’ll need to answer questions to confirm it’s your account.

If you forgot your email address, you may be able to recover it using this Google account recovery tool. You’ll need a phone number or the recovery email address for the account. If you run into trouble, Google has advice on what to do.

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