Category: Technologies

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.

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.

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

There are tons of reasons you might need to take a screenshot. You might need to send someone a photo of your screen over Slack to diagnose a problem, or you might need to screenshot a snippet of an important document to save for later. It doesn’t matter why you need to take a screenshot, there are several ways to get the job done on your Windows 11 computer.

Whether you want to take a full-screen grab, want to capture only part of the screen, or prefer to use a keyboard shortcut or application, the process is pretty simple. Read on for all the ways you can take a screenshot with Windows 11.

Don’t have Windows 11 yet? Check out these two important things you need to do before you can download Windows 11. And if you’re unsure about updating, read more about the major differences between Windows 11 and Windows 10.

1. Take a screenshot of the entire screen

The easiest way to take a screenshot of your entire desktop is with the PrtSc key at the top of your keyboard. After tapping on the PrtSc key, the screenshot will be saved to your clipboard, although you won’t receive any indication the screenshot has successfully been taken. To view the full-screen screenshot, use Ctrl-V to paste it into an application like Paint or Microsoft Word, or even into the body of an email.

2. Take a screenshot of the entire screen and save it to your computer

Similar to the first option, hitting the Windows-PrtSc keys will take a screenshot of your entire desktop, but it’ll also save the screenshot to a folder on your computer. If you hit the keys correctly, your whole screen will flash, indicating the screenshot has been taken and saved. You can find all of your full-screen screenshots in Pictures > Screenshots.

3. Take a screenshot of only part of the screen

Not everyone wants a screenshot of their entire screen, which is why Windows 11 gives you the option to take only a partial screenshot. If you tap on Win + Shift + S, your screen will flash and a small Snipping Tool menu will appear at the top of the screen, allowing you to do the following (from left to right):

• Rectangular Snip: Draw a box around what you want to capture.
• Freeform Snip: Draw any shape around what you want to capture.
• Window Snip: Choose a window to capture.
• Full-screen Snip: Capture your entire screen (same thing as PrtScr).

Once the screenshot’s taken, it’ll be saved to your clipboard, as with the PrtScr key option. You can then paste it elsewhere to look at it. However, if you click the Snipping Tool preview that appears at the bottom of the screen, you’ll find options to edit the screenshot (crop, rotate and more) and save it to your desktop.

4. Use the Snipping Tool to take delayed screenshots

The Snipping Tool comes built into Windows 11, and is the same tool used in the previous section, except with a few tiny additions. To use it, type in Snipping Tool in the Search feature and open the application to take a screenshot.

In Snipping Tool, if you click on New you’ll open the mini Snipping Tool menu (like in the section before), where you can then choose between several different snips. However, with this full version of the Snipping Tool, you can choose any of the four snipping options (rectangular, freeform, window and fullscreen) and then choose a delay option. You can choose between a 3-, 5- and 10-second delay. This will give you a bit of time to set up whatever it is you’re attempting to screenshot and might make it easier than taking the shot manually.

To take the delayed screenshot, simply hit Win-Shift-S, which will then be copied to your clipboard. You can also click on the screenshot preview that appears to make any edits or save it to your computer as a JPEG, PNG or other.

Choosing the right laptop or tablet to give as a gift can be challenging unless you’re aware of how the recipient will use it — everyone’s needs are different. For that reason, our recommendations for the best laptops and tablets to give as holiday gifts take many different laptop users and budgets into account.

The holidays are the best time of year to score a great deal on a new device. Many, if not all, of these laptops and tablets will come with discounts throughout the holiday shopping season. The prices listed below reflect the best prices we found at the time of publication. But prices fluctuate and deals come and go, so we’ll continue to update this list with sale prices as we spot them. If you want more options than those listed below, check out our full list of the best laptops of 2023, where you’ll also find links to our top picks across all categories of laptops.

Virtual private networks (VPNs) are used for various purposes, like strengthening online privacy and streaming. While using a VPN, apps and websites don’t see your actual IP address, instead viewing the location of the server you’re connected to. For instance, you may be in New York City, but with a VPN on a London server, apps and websites see your traffic as coming from the UK. A virtual private network could improve your gaming experience by lowering your ping (latency) for more responsive online play, mask your IP address and prevent throttling. But there are downsides to using a VPN for gaming — notably, slower connection speeds and possible terms of service (ToS) violations.

Here at CNET, we’ve spent years meticulously testing VPNs to cut through the marketing braggadocio and help you pick the best software for your needs. While curating the top VPNs, we mainly considered PC gaming — on Windows, Linux, and MacOS. However, most VPN providers offer Android and iOS apps for mobile gaming. You’ll even find apps for streaming boxes, including Android TV, the Amazon Firestick and Apple TV. Consoles like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch typically don’t have their own VPN apps — instead, you’ll generally need to configure your router for a whole-home VPN or use a host PC. Whether you want to reduce ping while connected to a game server, boost online protection or circumvent throttling limits, a virtual private network can take your game to the next level. But you’ll need to check specific game’s terms of service to ensure you’re not violating subscriber agreements. Let’s dive into the best VPNs for gaming so you can keep playing your favorite titles.

What is the best VPN for gaming right now?

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for gaming right now, thanks to its impressive speeds, excellent privacy protections and expansive global network of servers. NordVPN is another top VPN for gaming because it’s one of the most reliable VPNs available, delivers on speed and privacy, and includes unique features that can enhance your gaming experience. Surfshark is a solid alternative for anyone on a budget, because its WireGuard speeds are lightning fast, it’s easy to use, has a wide selection of servers all over the world and is cheaper than most of the competition.

The best VPN for gaming in 2023

Other VPNs we tested

IPVanish

IPVanish is a solid budget VPN for casual users — including gamers. The monthly plan sets you back $13 per month. You’ll pay $42 for 12 months of service on the annual plan, then $90 per year after that. A two-year subscription goes for a fairly cheap $72 for 24 months of service and renews at $90 per year billed annually. While many VPN providers restrict the number of devices you can use at once, IPVanish flaunts unlimited simultaneous connections.

IPVanish’s apps are uncomplicated, working equally well for beginners and seasoned tech enthusiasts alike. With a VPN enabled, IPVanish’s speed loss is slightly higher than ExpressVPN and NordVPN but still competitive and usable for gaming. However, its unpredictable speeds make it a tough sell for video gamers who demand low lag. Likewise, IPVanish’s servers pepper 52 countries, which is decent but less than providers like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark. Once promotional pricing runs out after a year or two (depending on your plan), IPVanish’s prices are middling, considering its uneven upload/download speeds. With its uneven connection speeds, average pricing and smaller server contingent, other VPN providers outstrip IPVanish for gaming.

Private Internet Access (PIA)

Private Internet Access is a capable budget-friendly alternative to Surfshark. If you’re looking for something even cheaper than Surfshark, but still a decent option for most gaming situations, then PIA is a good way to go. PIA’s speeds were slower than ExpressVPN and NordVPN in our testing but still should be good enough for your gaming needs as long as you connect through a nearby server and use the WireGuard protocol. You’ll get access to a robust network of servers spanning 91 countries — which is fewer than ExpressVPN and Surfshark but more than NordVPN, IPVanish and Proton VPN.

We also like how customizable the PIA app is. If you like to tinker with software and customize your experience to your exact specifications, you’ll be right at home with PIA. You can customize how much information related to your connection you want the app to display. But what’s even more useful to gamers is that you can customize the level of encryption for your connection, so you can dial in the perfect balance of speed and security for your gaming session. PIA works well across all major platforms and costs only $12 per month or $40 per year.

How we test VPNs for gaming

Though we ran a series of hands-on gaming tests for this list, our evaluation of the best VPNs for gaming was based predominantly on our extensive research and previous testing of the services listed above. The scope of the online gaming universe is simply far too vast for us to be able to develop a testing protocol that would do justice to every little corner of online gaming. We’ve spent years testing VPNs and researching what they can accomplish for virtually any online activity, so we’re confident in our capacity to deliver a sound and trustworthy evaluation of gaming VPNs. We took into account each provider’s speeds, usability and features, platform compatibility, server network, privacy protections, and customer support to come up with our list of the best VPNs for gaming.

Factors to consider in a VPN for gaming

Based on our years of experience in the VPN field and our understanding of what online gamers need from a VPN, these are the most important factors to consider in a VPN for gaming:

Speed

VPN speeds are the No. 1 factor to consider when choosing a VPN for gaming, because slow speeds and high latency can ruin your gaming experience. Your VPN needs to be fast enough to deliver the speeds necessary to keep you in the game, especially in competitive settings. A fast VPN can even help you potentially lower your ping, depending on the VPN server you’re connecting to and the network you’re on. And if you’re experiencing inadequate speeds for gaming, there are things you can try to speed up your VPN connection.

Privacy

A major consideration for any VPN, regardless of the activity, is privacy. It’s important to have a VPN that can provide the necessary privacy protections to ensure your activity remains hidden and you’re safe from DDoS attacks and other threats from malicious actors while gaming. Make sure the VPN you choose has strong encryption standards and essential privacy features like DNS leak protection, a kill switch and a no-logs policy.

Network

If you want to fully optimize your gaming experience, you’ll want a VPN that has servers in a wide selection of regions around the world. This will help ensure you have a speedy, stable connection regardless of where you are in the world. At the very least, you should make sure that the VPN you choose has servers located near your physical location and close to the servers of any games you play online.

Device compatibility

Of course, you want to make sure that the VPN is compatible with the platform(s) you’re gaming on. All of the VPNs we’ve listed above are compatible with and work well on all major platforms, so either one is a solid option whether you’re gaming on your PC, Mac or mobile device. If you’re a console gamer, you’ll need to make sure that your VPN works well on a router setup because gaming consoles don’t natively support VPN apps.

Help guides/customer support

If you’re having trouble with your VPN or have questions on how to optimize your VPN connection for gaming, it’s helpful to have a VPN that offers a robust help section along with accessible and knowledgeable customer support. Look for a VPN that has easy-to-follow setup guides for multiple platforms (including routers) and 24/7 customer support via live chat. Make sure that you have the appropriate help on hand when you need it, because responsive customer support and helpful guides can help ensure that your gaming session is not unnecessarily impeded upon.