Category: Technologies

If you’ve been using the internet for any substantial period of time, it’s very likely that your online personal data has been scattered all over the place. Each and every time you sign up for a new social media platform or purchase something online, for example, you give those companies bits and pieces of your personal data.

These pieces of your data are then collected by both companies and data brokers — which then sell it to other companies that can use your info to sell ads targeted at you. If you’re anything like me, you’ve given out your online data pretty liberally when signing up for rewards programs, for example, without knowing where your data was really going. And you’re paying for it now with ads that track you across the internet.

The fix to this can be somewhat complicated and confusing, but Consumer Reports’ Permission Slip app that reaches out to companies on your behalf and orders them to stop selling your information.

Read on to find out how exactly to use Permission Slip to reassert some control over your online data. Plus, here are six tips to help keep your data private and why you need a password manager.

What is Permission Slip?

To help you claw back a bit of your personal data, some states have passed legislation that allows you to exercise some control over what happens to it. Depending on the state, you can prohibit data brokers from selling your data or delete your online data outright. But the process of controlling your data on websites can be confusing, and it’s often unclear whether you’ve opted in or out of selling your personal data. And due to the nature of how your data is shopped around, it could be nearly impossible to locate all of your online data and protect it.

This is where services like Consumer Reports’ Permission Slip come in. Permission Slip does the legwork of collecting the places that might have your data, including more than 100 companies that use your personal information. All you have to do is submit your request for your info to either be deleted outright or simply not sold any more.

How do I use Permission Slip?

To get started using Permission Slip, all you have to do is sign up for the service with your email address. I decided to sign up with the email address that I frequently use when signing up for rewards programs or making accounts online — that way I would be addressing most of the places that could be selling my data.

After signing up, you’ll be presented with options of popular companies and data brokers that could have your information. If you think that company might have your data, and you want to do something about it, select Learn More & Take Action. If you don’t think this company has your data and you would like to no longer see it as an option, select Hide and it won’t clog up your suggestions.

Once you’ve selected Learn More & Take Action you will be taken to a screen that shows you what sort of data the company usually collects, and what your options are. Depending on the company and the state that you live in, you could have the option to prohibit companies from selling your data or to delete your account outright. It’s important to note that if you’re deleting your account and you have a rewards program with that company, you will lose those rewards upon deletion.

When you’ve decided whether you want to delete your account with a specific company or simply prohibit them from selling your data, Permission Slip will ask you a couple of questions that can help companies and data brokers correctly identify you and properly take care of your information.

After you input your personal info the first time, the process for continuing to remove your data is pretty simple. You will just scroll through Permission Slip’s suggestions, select companies that might have your info and then delete your account or prohibit the company from using your data.

It’s important to note that while Permission Slip is submitting the request on your behalf, you still might have to confirm the request directly with the company. It also might take a bit of time to have your request processed and your information deleted, so patience will be your friend during this process.

For more, here are the best internet providers of 2023 and the best VPNs of 2023.

We get it, sometimes you just need to cast whatever is on your Android phone over to your TV. It doesn’t matter whether you’re streaming a movie or if you want to browse through TikTok, you might want to do it on a bigger screen. You could use a tablet if you have one, but really there’s not a better option than mirroring your phone screen onto your television.

The best part is, you might already have everything you need. If not, don’t worry, it’s not too expensive to get everything set up. Here’s how you can start mirroring or casting your Android phone or tablet’s screen to your TV.

Everything you need to mirror your Android phone to your TV

For starters, you’ll need an Android device that has mirroring capabilities. Android has had mirror casting since Android 5.0 Lollipop, so unless your device is truly ancient, you’re in the clear.

In addition to a compatible Android phone or tablet, you’ll also need a Google Chromecast streaming device, like the Chromecast with Google TV HD (with a full-fledged remote) or a TV with built-in Chromecast support, like the Hisense U8H Google TV.

If you don’t know whether your TV has Chromecast support, the best way to check is to see if it shows up as an available casting device when you follow either method below.

Cast your screen to a TV using the Google Home app

The most reliable and consistent way to mirror your Android phone’s screen is to use the Google Home app. If you’ve already set up any of Google’s smart speakers, Nest Wifi Pro or Chromecast devices, you likely already have it installed. If not, you can download it from the Play store.

To connect to your TV, open the Home app on your mobile device and select the Chromecast device you want to use. At the bottom of the screen you’ll see a button labeled Cast my screen — tap it. Then, tap Cast screen on the prompt that appears to begin casting whatever is on your phone or tablet onto your TV.

To stop casting your screen, tap on the button labeled Stop mirroring in the Home app.

There’s an easier way, depending on your phone

Using the Home app isn’t a lot of work, but there’s an even easier way: the Casting shortcut in the quick settings panel. Access the quick settings panel by swiping down from the top of your Android phone or tablet’s display. There should be an option labeled Screen cast. If you can’t find it, use the Smart View shortcut, which is usually only on Samsung devices.

Once you tap the cast button, pick the device you want to mirror your display on from the list. It can take a few seconds for your phone to connect to the Chromecast-enabled device, but once it does, your screen will show up on your TV. Stop casting by repeating the same steps we just outlined.

You may also see a cast button inside of an app like YouTube, which allows you to cast the contents of that app and only that app. If you exit the app on the phone while you’re casting, it should remain playing on your TV.

But here’s the rub: Not every phone includes a cast button option in the quick settings panel. It’s not clear why, but if your phone doesn’t have the shortcut option, don’t give up. You can still mirror your phone using the Home app.

Remember, whenever you’re mirroring your screen, anything and everything that shows up on your phone or tablet’s display will also show up on the TV. Meaning, any alerts and notifications, along with their contents, will be broadcast for all to see. I suggest turning on Do Not Disturb to keep the disruptions at a minimum. Also, since there will potentially be a lag between your phone and TV when casting, if you want to game, avoid more intensive titles like Fortnite.

If you’re looking for ways to get more out of your Chromecast, check out these tips. Google Assistant has a trick you’ll want to keep in mind the next time you have a song stuck in your head.

Apple fans have been playing around with all of the exciting new features that iOS 17 brought to compatible iPhones earlier this fall. These new upgrades include several exciting additions, including StandBy mode and the Journal app. Among these new-to-iPhone features is NameDrop, a contact-sharing feature that allows you to share your number with just a tap of your phone.

The release of iOS 17, and NameDrop, follows the announcement of the iPhone 15 series, the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 at Apple’s Wonderlust event in September.

If you’ve got an iPhone running iOS 17, you’re in luck: NameDrop is simple to use. Read on for everything you need to know about this feature.

What is NameDrop?

NameDrop is the newest way iPhone users can share contact information with each other. You no longer have to fork over your phone to strangers if you want to swap contact info. All you need to do is simply tap your phones together to swap information.

When can I use NameDrop?

If you’re an iPhone user, you’re in luck. NameDrop is available to you right now, or as soon as you update to iOS 17 — that is, as long as you have a supported iPhone.

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How does NameDrop work?

In a Newsroom post, Apple called NameDrop a “new AirDrop experience.” People with iPhones can “hold their iPhone near another to share their contact information with only their intended recipients.”

Apple clarified that you’ll be able to select what information you share with other people, so you won’t have to worry about accidentally sending super personal information to strangers.

Essentially, all you have to do is place your iPhone close to the intended recipient of your NameDrop, and you’re done. Once you’ve placed the phones together, a Contact Poster will pop up (this is the image that pops up when you call someone). After that, you’ll have the option to just receive the contact or send your own back.

You’ll only be able to NameDrop with other iPhone users running iOS 17 or later and Apple Watch users running Watch OS 10 or later. So, if you want to get in on the contact sharing action, you’ll want to make sure your device is running the right version of its operating system.

So… how do I turn NameDrop off?

Not everyone is going to be a fan of this new feature, and if you fall into that category, Apple’s got you covered.

All you have to do is open the Settings app, and then tap on General. After that, navigate to the AirDrop tab. Once you open the tab, simply toggle the Bring Devices Together option off. And just like that, no more NameDrop.

For more iOS 17 details, check out everything you should do before updating to iOS 17 and five hidden iOS 17 features we think you should know about.

It’s an odd time for Apple to launch new processors, but launch it did. The company on Monday rolled out the update to most of its processor line, the M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max, along with refreshes of systems using them: The iMac and 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro. All are available for preorder now and shipping next week except for the M3 Max models, which are slated to ship later in the month.

The processor upgrades bring typical generation-over-generation performance bumps — generation-over-two-generations for the iMac, which remained on the M1 chip. In other words, it’s somewhat faster, significantly faster or seriously faster depending upon what you’re doing, what you’re comparing it to and who’s doing the comparing. But they’re likely fast enough that given the last generation of MacBook Pro 16 just shipped in February, I’d be peeved if I’d bought it.

The iMac jumps to the M3, which Apple claims makes it twice as fast as its predecessor, the two-generations-old M1. There’s nothing else new; same colors, same screen, same accessories and same design. It starts at the same $1,299 price as before.

You’ll be able to get the updated MacBook Pros in a new Space Black as well as silver, though the Black is available only in the M3 Pro and Max configurations. Their screens remain the same, but Apple has upped the power it drives them with, which raises their standard peak brightness to 600 nits, up from 500 nits. And Apple added a fingerprint-resistant coating to avoid the Midnight MacBook Air kerfuffle.

The 14-inch M3 model is new, in that there were only Pro and Max versions for the previous model. Using the M3 lets Apple set a lower starting price of $1,599 for the 14; the next step up Max model still starts at $1,999. One perk you may get with the 14-inch model is improved battery life: Apple rates it as 22 hours, up from 18, and the same as the MacBook 16. As before, the 16-inch model comes in M3 Pro and Max variants and starts at $2,499.

What the chips bring to the party

Most notably, in addition to the general speed gains and optimizations, they inherit some advancements Apple rolled out with the A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro and Max. They use the same 3nm fabrication process, for which Apple chose to engineer into a smaller die (it could have used the same size die and crammed more stuff in); a smaller process generally means faster and more power efficient overall. And going with the smaller die leaves more room for cooling — faster usually also means hotter.

As you’d expect, the M3 chips have more CPU cores, or at least the Pro and Max do. The M3 has the same nominal specs as the M2, the M3 Pro has the same core count but a different balance of performance and efficiency cores (six of each vs. eight P and 4 E) and supports up to 36GB of memory rather than 32GB. The Max gets the biggest bump, to 16 CPU cores (12P and 4E) and 40 GPU cores. In terms of both types of core counts, it’s still behind the M1 Ultra, but it does get a boost to 128GB maximum memory. All of the chips get AV1 — a popular video codec — hardware decoding via the updated Media Engine.

The M3 series also has the revamped graphics architecture that debuted in the A17 Pro, which isn’t just faster but adds hardware acceleration for ray tracing and mesh shaders. Ray tracing delivers more realistic rendering of lighting, reflections and procedural textures for applications and games that have been designed to take advantage of it. Mesh shaders take the graphics data used to calculate object visibility and and rendering characteristics (vertices and geometry) and do more of the processing up front, more efficiently and in bigger chunks that older methods. This in turn improves gaming frame rates.

Another change to the GPU operation is Dynamic Caching, which more efficiently allocates memory between the CPU and GPU as needed so that it’s not starving or overallocating to either one. This is important for Apple’s chips because its Unified Memory Architecture basically puts everything in a big pool.

Samsung’s One UI 6 update will bring a bevy of new camera features to Galaxy phones, some of which are powered by AI.

The update, which is based on Google’s broader Android 14 software, is said to have begun rolling out to certain countries in Europe and will be arriving in the US in the coming weeks. The launch comes as AI is beginning to play a larger role in smartphones, as recent announcements from Google and Qualcomm have indicated.

Samsung appears to be taking a page from Apple and Google when it comes to certain camera-related features in One UI 6. For example, a feature called AI Image Clipping will let Galaxy users cut certain objects out of a photo and turn them into stickers that can be placed on other photos. Apple has a similar feature in its recently launched iOS 17 iPhone update. A GIF within Samsung’s press release also shows the sticker being resized after it’s been pasted onto another image, which is somewhat reminiscent of Google’s Magic Editor tool for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

Samsung is also building on its Galaxy Enhance-X app, an existing app with extra photo-editing tools, like the ability to sharpen older photos similar to Google’s Photo Unblur. With One UI 6, that app will get new capabilities such as Sky Guide, which uses AI to identify constellations and stars after taking a photo of the night sky.

You’ll also be able to apply Samsung’s Single Take feature in Enhance-X to videos and images with motion that you’ve already captured. Single Take is a camera mode on Samsung phones that lets you capture multiple images at a time in different styles by tapping the shutter button once. In Enhance-X, it sounds like your phone will be able to extract the best stills and clips from existing images using Single Take. Other features coming to the app include the ability to sharpen blurriness from a smudged camera lens in photos and turn regular videos into slow motion clips by generating extra frames.

Aside from these AI-powered features, the company is hoping to make using the camera more convenient. The update should improve document scanning, and you’ll be able to switch to a higher resolution shooting mode more easily in the camera app. If you have frequent camera modes that you prefer, such as panorama or portrait, you’ll also be able to save them directly to the home screen as widgets. Samsung is also updating the editing tools layout in the camera app and adding undo and redo buttons for toggling between edits.

Samsung’s One UI 6 update is another sign that smartphone makers are seeking new ways to incorporate AI into current and future products. AI has played an important role in smartphones for years when it comes to features like voice recognition, language translation and object recognition in photos. But the boom in generative artificial intelligence, or AI that can create content based on prompts, following the success of ChatGPT, has fueled greater interest in AI.

Qualcomm designed its next-generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 smartphone chip around AI use cases and applications. The AI-powered photo-editing features in the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are the biggest factors that separate them from last year’s Pixel 7 family. And Apple is said to be developing new AI features for iOS 18, according to Bloomberg. Now, we’re getting a sense of how Samsung will incorporate AI into its Galaxy phones with One UI 6.

Samsung’s new software, launched in beta for the Galaxy S23 in August, and social media posts spotted by 9to5Google and Android Authority suggest the software has launched in parts of Europe. A Samsung spokesperson told CNET it will come to US devices in the coming weeks.

Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to help create some stories. For more, see this post.

Using a watch to check the time is handy, but today’s watches do a lot more than count down the minutes until Happy Hour. Features like activity and heart rate monitoring, contactless payment, and messaging are all the norm, but they come with a price. Luckily right now you can get the Google Pixel Smartwatch for a fraction of the regular price, just $200.

For Android users, the Google Pixel is among our top choice for the Best Smart Watches of 2023. The sale model is WiFi compatible and boasts a variety of features. For your health, there’s Fitbit activity tracking, along with 6 months of Fitbit Premium included. The Pixel can track your heart rate and get insight into your sleep as well as assess your heart rhythm for AFib with ECG. There’s also Emergency SOS, so your watch can alert trusted contacts or 911 if you’re feeling unsafe.

Stay connected through at-a-glance messages, checking your inbox, and making phone calls. You can set up Google Wallet, Maps, and calendar notifications as well.

All of this comes in a slick design. The face has a circular, domed design with Wear OS by Google, so it’s easier than ever to see and manage from your watch. Made with scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass, it can withstand up to 5 ATM (50 meters) of water resistance. The sale price includes a variety of colors, such as Polished Silver, Matte Black, and Champagne Gold.

The Google Pixel Smartwatch is regularly priced at $350. Currently, you’ll save $150 off the regular price, plus Amazon Prime members get free shipping.

You won’t need to wait until Halloween to receive treats from Apple. The company is hosting a product launch event online tonight at 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET). If you peep the Apple Events page, you’ll see the Apple logo morphing into a version of the Finder icon that vaguely resembles a jack-o’-lantern. It not only fits into the Halloween theme for this time of year but also gives us a hint that it will be a Mac-related announcement.

And that would make sense, since Apple released new iPhones in September and then followed that up last week with a new Apple Pencil (but no new iPads). It’s too early for another iPhone, and if Apple had new iPads to roll out, we would have seen them last week. That leaves Macs as the chief suspects for Monday’s event.

M3 iMac on the way?

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is prepping a new 24-inch iMac based on a new M3 processor. The current iMac is nearly two-and-a-half years old, so it’s well overdue for a refresh. Apple released the M1 iMac in May 2021, and it has yet to update it with the M2 chip that can be found in the company’s MacBook, Mac Mini, Mac Studio and Mac Pro lines.

The rumors point to a spec update and not a design overhaul, other than perhaps different color options. The current iMac is already available in a rainbow of colors: blue, green, pink, silver, yellow, orange and purple.

M3 MacBooks, too?

Gurman also points out that stock is low for MacBook Pros, which could be a hint that new models are coming soon. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is the oldest MacBook in Apple’s lineup. It was released in June 2022 with Apple’s M2 chip. It could get the M3 treatment alongside the iMac on Monday. If the 13-inch MacBook Pro receives an update, it could mean the end of the much-derided Touch Bar that’s not as useful as simply having a row of physical Function keys above the keyboard. The 13-inch Pro is the last MacBook equipped with the Touch Bar.

Apple is famously tight-lipped ahead of its product announcements, so we won’t know what it has in store until Monday’s event. My best guess? We see a new M3 iMac. And if Apple rolls out the M3 chip to the 13-inch MacBook Pro, then we will also get a 13-inch M3 MacBook Air update. The least compelling MacBook Pro is the 13-inch model, and I don’t see it headlining Apple’s M3 MacBook announcement. The 13-inch MacBook Air is much more popular and is also primed for an update; it was last updated at WWDC in June 2022 with an M2 chip alongside the 13-inch Pro.

Stock may be low for the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros, but they are newer than their smaller, 13-inch sibling. These models were released in January 2023 with Apple’s M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. I’d wager it won’t be until 2024 that we see them updated with M3 Pro and Max chips.

What about the 15-inch MacBook Air, you ask? It’s not even six months old, far too new to receive an M3 update. Perhaps Apple will close or remove entirely the $200 price gap between it and the 13-inch model if the 13-inch model moves to the M3 and the 15-inch Air stays with the M2. Hopefully, that means the 15-inch Air gets a price cut and not the other way around, with the starting price of the 13-inch Air going up. Completing the MacBook Air shuffle could be the M2 Air replacing the M1 Air as the entry-level MacBook Air model at $999.

Again, Apple’s “Scary Fast” event starts at 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET, 1 a.m. BST, 11 a.m. AEDT) tonight and can be streamed live on Apple’s website and Apple TV.

If you want to keep all your photos, videos, music and other important files secure and accessible, you’ll want to make sure they’re stored in the cloud. And if you need a ton of storage space, we’ve found a deal you won’t want to miss. Most cloud storage services require a monthly subscription, which can get pretty pricey over time. But with this one-time StackSocial deal, you can get a whopping 20TB of Prism Drive storage for a single $70 payment, which saves you hundreds compared to a subscription.

And if 20TB is a little much for your needs, you can get 10TB for $60, 5TB for $50 or 2TB for $30. Just note that these deals are only available through Tuesday, Oct. 31, so be sure to get your order in before then if you don’t want to miss out.

Prism Drive lets you securely store your files and access them from practically anywhere using your computer, phone or tablet. You can upload just about any type of file, including MP4, JPEG, PPT and more, and you can preview files in the cloud without having to download them first. Note that there is a file size upload limit of 10GB.

The service uses zero-knowledge encryption to keep your data secure, and deleted files can still be recovered for up to 30 days after. There’s no limit on the number of devices you can use to access your storage drive, and you can create shareable links to safely share files with friends and family.

If you’re in the market for some high-end wireless headphones or ANC earbuds, you really do need to consider what Sony has to offer before making a purchase anywhere else. The WH-1000XM5 and WF-1000XM5 are among the best you can buy, and right now you can get your hands on a pair of either with a fairly considerable discount.

That discount comes via Amazon, with the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones now just $330 (down from $400) and the WFH-1000XM5 earbuds yours for just $250 (down from $300) if you act quickly. Amazon hasn’t said when either of these deals will come to an end, so you should consider ordering now if you want to make sure you lock in these discounted prices.

Both of these offer active noise cancellation and long battery life, but there are other options if you’d rather spend a little less. The Sony WH-CH720N are a solid choice and are just $98 today — a big saving over the $150 you’d normally pay.

Looking for cheaper earbuds than the premium WFH-1000XM5? The Sony LinkBuds S are discounted by $72 today, making them just $128. While their sound and noise canceling don’t quite measure up to the XM5’s, they’re still a solid set of earbuds.

Keep in mind that not all colors are always part of these deals so double-check the price before you add anything to your cart. There are other deals to be had on the Sony audio page on Amazon, so make sure to peruse them all before making your choice.