Category: Technologies

In the latest chapter of blue bubbles versus green bubbles, Apple has blocked access to iMessage from credentials masquerading as Apple in order to protect its customers, the company told CNET on Saturday evening. This comes after companies like Beeper and Nothing released Android apps that had provided a workaround.

The iPhone maker said that it cannot verify messages sent via unauthorized means that were posing as valid Apple credentials. Messages sent over iMessage have end-to-end encryption to ensure that no one but the sender and recipient has access. Apple said that it blocked these “fake credentials” in order to protect its customers.

The move comes less than a week after the company Beeper reversed-engineered iMessage access so that people using Android or Windows could use the service and send iMessages from non-Apple devices. Messages sent to an iPhone owner that would normally show up as green bubbles from an Android user over SMS, showed up as blue if sent from the Beeper Mini Android app or Beeper Cloud, the original version of the service that routed iMessage through a Mac.

“At Apple, we build our products and services with industry-leading privacy and security technologies designed to give users control of their data and keep personal information safe,” Apple said in a statement provided to CNET. “We took steps to protect our users by blocking techniques that exploit fake credentials in order to gain access to iMessage.”

To maintain end-to-end encryption, Apple can’t verify these messages sent through masquerading apps as having valid credentials.

“These techniques posed significant risks to user security and privacy, including the potential for metadata exposure and enabling unwanted messages, spam, and phishing attacks,” said Apple. “We will continue to make updates in the future to protect our users.”

Beeper Mini users took to Reddit on Friday to share that they couldn’t send or receive messages using the app.

“It’s mind-boggling to read that Beeper Mini is, in some way, making those communications less secure and less private, because that’s the opposite of what’s happening,” said Beeper co-founder Eric Migicovsky on a call with CNET Saturday night. “What we did was make those conversations encrypted. And it’s shocking to see a statement that’s almost the polar opposite of what exactly happened.”

Messages sent via SMS between Android and iPhone users are unencrypted. But for three days last week, the Beeper Mini app allowed Android and iPhone owners to communicate securely with end-to-end encryption. Migicovsky explained that Apple hasn’t reached out to him or his company directly. He explained that Friday’s outage started at 11:30 a.m. and knocked out Beeper Mini and Beeper Cloud, but that his team got Beeper Cloud up and running again within 23 hours.

“We got Beeper Cloud up and running. So whatever the statement, Apple said, it’s not entirely correct. Or whatever they mean by it isn’t,” said Migicovsky. “As of today, as of right now, it’s working great.”

So what’s next? All this follows Apple’s recent statement that it would adopt the RCS texting standard in 2024. But that doesn’t account for Beeper.
“If anyone doubts the security and privacy of our app, we’re more than happy to provide the source code of it to a mutually agreed upon third party and let them be the arbiters of this,” Migicovsky said. “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.”

Originally published at 6:32 p.m. PT.
Updated at 7:43 p.m. to include statements from Beeper.

Situating your 4K TV on a wall mount or positioning it as the focal point of your entertainment center is a great way to begin constructing your home theater setup. What you decide to accessorize it with, though, will really inform how any mild mannered room can transform into an epic home theater experience. When it comes to the best home theater gift ideas, whether you’re shopping for friends or family, worthwhile tools to consider may range from a new pair of headphones, soundbars, turntables or a streaming device. And while it all can seem overwhelming, you can easily avoid emptying your bank account while still getting an awesome gift.

If you’re on the lookout for more home entertainment tips, be sure to check out our articles on the best antennas, rotating your streaming services and how Roku and Fire TV compare.

Having suffered an agonizing defeat to Arsenal last time out, things don’t get easier for English Premier League underdogs Luton. This weekend they host a Man City side that’s desperate to get back to winning ways.

The hosts were leading the title-chasing Gunners up until the closing stages of their clash, and it remains to be seen how badly the nature of that stinging 4-3 defeat will affect Rob Edwards’ side, who have now slipped back into the relegation places.

Man City, meanwhile, are in unfamiliar territory, with Pep Guardiola’s usually invincible Cityzens currently on a run of four games without a win, a drop of form that has seen them fall six points behind title rivals Arsenal.

Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services for watching all of the action live wherever you are in the world.

Luton Town vs. Manchester City: When and where?

Luton Town host Manchester City at Kenilworth Road on Sunday, Dec 10. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. GMT (9 a.m. ET, 6 a.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 1 a.m. AEDT on Monday, Dec. 11 in Australia).

How to watch the Luton vs. Man City game online from anywhere using a VPN

If you’re unable to view the game locally, you may need a different way to watch — and that’s where 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 a great idea if you want an extra layer of privacy for your devices and log-ins while you’re traveling and connecting to Wi-Fi networks.

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 sticks 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, non-blackout 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 thinks is 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 Luton vs. Man City in the US

Sunday’s Luton-Man City match is streaming on Peacock. You’ll need a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus account to catch the game live.

Livestream the Luton vs. Man City game in the UK

Premier League rights in the UK are split between Sky Sports, Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports (previously known as BT Sport). Luton vs. Man CIty is exclusive to Sky Sports, showing on its Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League and Ultra channels. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the game via its Sky Go app, but cord-cutters will want to get set up with a Now account and a Now Sports membership to stream the game.

Livestream the Luton vs. Man City game in Canada

If you want to stream Luton vs. Man City live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to Fubo Canada. The service has exclusive rights for this Premier League season.

Livestream the Luton vs. Man City game in Australia

Football fans Down Under can watch this EPL fixture on streaming service Optus Sport, which is showing every Premier League game live in Australia this season.

Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming EPL matches 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 including 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.

Trying to get access to Office apps outside of work or school can be pretty expensive. These days, snagging your own license to Office Pro 2021 will cost you a whopping $440 when buying directly from Microsoft. But for folks looking to cut costs on the apps they need, without incurring monthly charges for a Microsoft 365 subscription, StackSocial has a holiday special that’s not to be missed. There’s still time to nab Office 2019 for Windows or Mac for just $30, a savings of $199. But be quick — this offer expires Dec. 10.

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 use, 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 for just $80.

Holiday shopping can take over your entire month if you let it. From standing in long lines to battling through parking lots to coordinating being home for package arrivals, it can take a lot of work to buy gifts for everyone on your list. This becomes even more chaotic when you’ve waited until the last minute and have to curate some buzzer-beater options. Cut the stress this year by swapping out physical gifts for presents you can either email or print. Don’t worry — these awesome picks won’t make it look like you scrambled to make a shoestring catch.

As long as the gift taps into your recipient’s interests, they’ll appreciate it just as much as a physical gift. Whether they love concerts, travel, music or binge-watching TV, you’re sure to please everyone on your holiday list. Below, you’ll find all sorts of interesting and creative gift options, including subscription boxes, printable gift cards, streaming services and more.

Former Gunners boss Unai Emery will be highly motivated for his side to claim another big scalp on Saturday as Aston Villa host Arsenal.

Villa emphasized their credentials as bona fide title challengers with a statement 1-0 win over Man City on Wednesday — a result that saw them leapfrog the defending champs to go third in the English Premier League table.

While Villa’s win allowed Arsenal to open up a six-point lead over Man City, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta will also know that result will ensure his side’s opponents on Saturday will have grown confidence ahead of this now crucial game in the title race.

Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services for watching all of the action live wherever you are in the world.

Aston Villa vs. Arsenal: When and where?

Aston Villa host Arsenal at Villa Park in Birmingham on Saturday, Dec 9. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. GMT (that’s 12:30 p.m. ET and 9:30 a.m. PT in the US, and 4:30 a.m. AEDT on Monday in Australia).

How to watch the Aston Villa vs. Arsenal game online from anywhere using a VPN

If you’re unable to view the game locally, you may need a different way to watch — and that’s where 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 a great idea if you want an extra layer of privacy for your devices and log-ins while you’re traveling and connecting to Wi-Fi networks.

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 sticks 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, non-blackout 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 thinks is 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 Aston Villa vs. Arsenal in the US

Saturday’s Aston Villa-Arsenal match is streaming on Peacock. You’ll need a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus account to catch the game live.

Livestream the Aston Villa vs. Arsenal game in the UK

Premier League rights in the UK are split between Sky Sports, Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports (previously known as BT Sport). Aston Villa vs. Arsenal is exclusive to Sky Sports, showing on its Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League and Ultra channels. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the game via its Sky Go app, but cord-cutters will want to get set up with a Now account and a Now Sports membership to stream the game.

Livestream the Aston Villa vs. Arsenal game in Canada

If you want to stream Aston Villa vs. Arsenal live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to Fubo Canada. The service has exclusive rights for this Premier League season.

Livestream the Aston Villa vs. Arsenal game in Australia

Football fans Down Under can watch this EPL fixture on streaming service Optus Sport, which is showing every Premier League game live in Australia this season.

Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming EPL matches 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 including 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.

It’s December, and you can ride the wave of holiday movies on the Hallmark Channel. Though the Christmas in July programming sets the stage during the summer, fans truly immerse themselves in the festivities now. Don’t worry if you’ve missed out on Hallmark’s countdown so far, because it’s the perfect time to embrace the spirit and extend it into the new year.

Streaming is the answer for those without access to the Hallmark Channel through a cable or satellite TV provider. While you may already be watching Hallmark Movies & More free content through a FAST (for “free, ad-supported television”) platform like Pluto TV, it’s the Hallmark Channel that is flush with new titles this season. Here’s where to stream it without cable and how a VPN can help your experience.

Read more: Best Streaming Service of 2023

Watch the Hallmark Channel on Peacock

The least expensive streaming service that carries Hallmark Channel is Peacock. The app features a Hallmark hub where you can watch new movie and TV series releases live as they air on the broadcast network, or stream them on demand for up to three days. In addition to watching Hallmark titles on demand, viewers can check out three live channels on the streaming service that run content 24/7: Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and Hallmark Drama. There is also some Spanish-language content available.

Note: Ads play when you’re viewing content in the channels section, regardless of subscription type.

How to watch the Hallmark Channel on a live TV streaming service

Several live TV streaming platforms carry the network in their channel lineups, but we advise you to choose one that’s best for your budget and content preferences. Philo is a budget-friendly option, and it offers a free trial period. To learn more about live TV streaming offerings, read our channel comparison and this matchup between YouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV.

Watch Hallmark Channel from anywhere using a VPN

Perhaps you’re traveling abroad and want to stream Peacock 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 Hallmark content from anywhere in the world. There are other good reasons to use a VPN for streaming too.

A VPN is the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds by encrypting your traffic. 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 may 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 the Hallmark Channel is streaming on Peacock (i.e. the US). Before you open the streaming app, make sure you’re connected to your VPN using your selected region. If you want to stream content on more than one device, it’s possible you’ll need to configure each one to ensure you are 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 Peacock 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 you’ve 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.

If the latest Meta Quest 3is on your holiday wish list you’re not alone: it’s one of the best VR headsets when it comes to bang for your buck. While the games and apps for the Quest 3 are still in their early days, the headset offers a unique mixed-reality experience. Because it’s the newest headset and a big upgrade to the Meta Quest 2, you won’t find a lot of great deals for it, but you can pick the Quest 3 up at most retailers and get a free game thrown in. If you go for the 512GB model, most retailers also add six months of Meta Quest Plus. While those aren’t as great as a direct discount, the free game and subscription add up to around $100, so it’s about that much in savings you get.

Unlike the Meta Quest 2 that came before it, the Quest 3 embraces both virtual reality and mixed-reality experiences, similar to Apple’s Vision Pro and last year’s Quest Pro. It costs a lot less than both those devices, though, with a $500 starting price.

Other improvements over its predecessor include a new Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor, better graphics, a higher-resolution display and improved controllers.

We’ll continue to update this collection of Meta Quest 3 offers as more become available, so if nothing grabs you right now, check back later.

Best Meta Quest 3 deals

Google has begun bringing a native understanding of video, audio and photos to its Bard AI chatbot with a new model called Gemini. Google Pixel 8 phone owners will be among the first to tap into its new artificial intelligence abilities.

The first incarnations of the new technology arrived Wednesday in dozens of countries through Google Bard’s Gemini update, but only in English. It can provide text-based chat abilities that Google says improves AI abilities in complex tasks like summarizing documents, reasoning and writing programming code. The bigger change with multimedia abilities — for example understanding hand gestures in a video or figuring out the result of a child’s dot-to-dot drawing puzzle — will arrive “soon,” Google said.

Gemini is a dramatic departure for AI. Text-based chat is important, but humans must process much richer information as we inhabit our three-dimensional, ever-changing world. And we respond with complex communication abilities, like speech and imagery, not just written words. Gemini is an attempt to come closer to our own fuller understanding of the world.

Gemini comes in three versions tailored for different levels of computing power, Google said:

• Gemini Nano runs on mobile phones, with two varieties available built for different levels of available memory. It’ll power new features on Google’s Pixel 8 phones, like summarizing conversations in its Recorder app or suggesting message replies in WhatsApp typed with Google’s Gboard.
• Gemini Pro, tuned for fast responses, runs in Google’s data centers and will power a new version of Bard, starting Wednesday.
• Gemini Ultra, limited to a test group for now, will be available in a new Bard Advanced chatbot due in early 2024. Google declined to reveal pricing details, but expect to pay a premium for this top capability.

The new version spotlights the breakneck pace of advancement in the new generative AI field, where chatbots create their own responses to prompts that we write in plain language rather than arcane programming instructions. Google’s top competitor, OpenAI, stole a march with the launch of ChatGPT a year ago, but already Google is on its third major AI model revision and expects to deliver that technology through products that billions of us use, like search, Chrome, Google Docs and Gmail.

“For a long time we wanted to build a new generation of AI models inspired by the way people understand and interact with the world — an AI that feels more like a helpful collaborator and less like a smart piece of software,” said Eli Collins, a product vice president at Google’s DeepMind division. “Gemini brings us a step closer to that vision.”

OpenAI also supplies the brains behind Microsoft’s Copilot AI technology, including the newer GPT-4 Turbo AI model that OpenAI released in November. Microsoft, like Google, has major products like Office and Windows to which it’s adding AI features.

AI gets smarter, but it’s not perfect

Multimedia likely will be a big change compared to text when it arrives. But what hasn’t changed is the fundamental problems of AI models trained by recognizing patterns in vast quantities of real-world data. They can turn increasingly complex prompts into increasingly sophisticated responses, but you still can’t trust that they didn’t just provide an answer that was plausible instead of actually correct. As Google’s chatbot warns when you use it, “Bard may display inaccurate info, including about people, so double-check its responses.”

Gemini is the next generation of Google’s large language model, a sequel to the PaLM and PaLM 2 that have been the foundation of Bard so far. But by training Gemini simultaneously on text, programming code, images, audio and video, it’s able to more efficiently cope with multimedia input than with separate but interlinked AI models for each mode of input.

Examples of Gemini’s abilities, according to a Google research paper (PDF), are diverse.

Looking at a series of shapes consisting of a triangle, square and pentagon, it can correctly guess the next shape in the series is a hexagon. Presented with photos of the moon and a hand holding a golf ball and asked to find the link, it correctly points out that Apollo astronauts hit two golf balls on the moon in 1971. It converted four bar charts showing country-by-country waste disposal techniques into a labeled table and spotted an outlying data point, namely that the US throws a lot more plastic in the dump than other regions.

The company also showed Gemini processing a handwritten physics problem involving a simple sketch, figuring out where a student’s error lay, and explaining a correction. A more involved demo video showed Gemini recognizing a blue duck, hand puppets, sleight-of-hand tricks and other videos. None of the demos were live, however, and it’s not clear how often Gemini fumbles such challenges.

Was Google’s Gemini video fake?

Google touted Gemini in a demonstration video purporting to show it recognizing hand gestures, following magic tricks, and putting pictures of planets in order by how far the planets are from the sun — all from visual data. You should think of that as a dramatization of the Gemini’s true abilities, however.

It’s not uncommon for promotional videos to make products look more glamorous than they truly are. In this case, you might think Gemini was processing video input data and spoken instructions. Google included some fine print: a disclaimer in the video that Gemini doesn’t respond as quickly, and a link in the video description to a discussion of how Google’s Gemini demo actually worked. You might not have noticed any of that, though. Google also followed up with a post on X, formerly Twitter, that shows how fast Gemini actually does respond.

Still, the video doesn’t fundamentally misrepresent Gemini’s abilities, though outsiders haven’t generally been able to test it. It can accept spoken and video input.

Gemini Ultra coming in 2024

Gemini Ultra awaits further testing before appearing next year.

“Red teaming,” in which a product-maker enlists people to find security vulnerabilities and other problems, is underway for Gemini Ultra. Such tests are more complicated with multimedia input data. For example, a text message and photo could each be innocuous on their own, but when paired could convey dramatically different meaning.

“We’re approaching this work boldly and responsibly,” Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in a blog post. That means a combination of ambitious research with big potential payoffs, but also adding safeguards and working collaboratively with governments and others “to address risks as AI becomes more capable.”

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