Category: Technologies

After three weeks, it already looks like a two-team race in the NFC North. The Packers and Lions sit at 2-1 while the Bears and Vikings are still searching for their first win of the year, which means tonight’s victor will take early control of the division.

The Lions hope to get injured running back David Montgomery back for Thursday night to join rookie Jahmyr Gibbs in what has been an effective, two-headed rushing attack. They complement Detroit’s passing game behind QB Jared Goff, wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookie tight end Sam LaPorta. The Packers are cautiously optimistic that star running back Aaron Jones and wideout Christian Watson can suit up against the Lions. Jones has missed the last two games, and Watson has yet to play this season. Both are weapons that would greatly aid Jordan Love, who is in his first season as the Packers’ starting quarterback.

Kickoff for the Lions-Packers game on Thursday Night Football is set for 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT) tonight with the game streaming nationally on Prime Video and for free on Twitch.

Keep reading to see your options for watching Thursday Night Football on Prime Video, Twitch, NFL Plus and — if you live in the home markets of the Lions or Packers — a local network channel.

With YouTube and YouTube TV now the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket, along with games also streaming on Paramount Plus, Peacock and ESPN Plus, there’s lots for NFL fans to keep track of this season. Check out our picks for the best live TV streaming services for NFL fans in 2023.

TNF Streaming: Prime Video, Twitch and NFL Plus

Thursday Night Football games are streamed nationally on Amazon Prime Video, giving NFL fans more incentive than free two-day shipping to sign up for an Amazon Prime account for $15 a month or $139 a year. You can also subscribe only to Prime Video for $9 a month.

Fans in the local market of each team playing on Thursday night will be able to watch on an over-the-air station, while those who don’t pay for either of Amazon’s services can watch for free on Prime Video’s Twitch channel (Twitch is also owned by Amazon).

If you subscribe to NFL Plus, the league’s $7-per-month streaming service (or $15 a month with Red Zone included), you can also stream the game without subscribing to Prime or Prime Video. Note that NFL Plus viewing is limited to watching on just a phone or tablet, not on a computer or TV.

Can I watch Thursday Night Football on local TV?

Yes, you can, if you live in the local market of either of the teams playing on Thursday. For this week, that’s WJBK Fox 2 in Detroit and WITI Fox 6 in Milwaukee and Green Bay. There are two ways to watch local channels on your TV. The first is with a live TV streaming service. And the second is with an over-the-air antenna, if you live in an area that has good reception.

All five of the live TV streaming services carry Fox, but not every service carries every local network, so check each one using the links below to make sure it carries Fox in your particular area.

All the live TV streaming services above offer free trials, allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.

At Code Conference 2023, Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd explained how the company wants to increase the use of artificial intelligence in its apps, from coaching users in dating and relationships to one day using AI as intelligent matchmakers to save users a lot of swiping.

Herd had first revealed that Bumble was investing in AI in a Bloomberg interview earlier this month and explained on stage at Code Conference in Dana Point, California, how AI could improve matches, save users time and even coach them.

“I really think about AI as a supercharger to love and relationships,” Herd said. Bumble is thinking of using AI to help folks before meeting other users too, by alleviating worries that they’ll be bad at dating. “We can actually leverage AI to train people to interact in a way that makes them feel positive so that they can get to the human,” she said.

She clarified that Bumble doesn’t want to replace humans with bots or have them fall in love with a digital partner (no Her situations, then). Bumble wants to integrate AI in a way that reduces the time from matching to meeting in person: “We are definitely not in the business of keeping you on your phone forever,” Herd said.

In the future, Bumble could even use AI as a sort of matchmaker that uses preferred dating parameters and deal breakers — values, ideal vacations and best ways to spend a weeknight, Herd gave as examples — to swiftly sift through the massive amounts of potential daters and present only the most likely matches to users. Perhaps AI could even use image recognition to match restaurants and brands one person likes (presumably from profile photos) that other users like.

This could be bundled into something Herd acknowledged Bumble is currently working on: a more exclusive tier of service above Bumble Premium that will be priced higher and do a lot of the matchmaking for you.

“I hear from women friends of mine say, ‘I don’t have time to get on this dating app and swipe for an hour — can Bumble just do it for me? I’ll pay whatever you want,” Herd said. While she didn’t offer more details on pricing or availability, she said it would be an “AI-supercharged” version of the current products that “feels very curated, very selective.”

Herd reiterated Bumble’s commitment to protecting users as the company continues exploring AI, and it’s developing a set of terms and conditions to clarify to users how it will use AI tools. Given the proliferation of AI abuse in (for instance) pornographic deepfake imitations, which Bumble has vowed to fight with tech and media partners, this disclosure fits Bumble and will be part of “a suite of other initiatives” in the realm of legislation, Herd said.

Read also: How Generative AI Helps Bring Big Design Ideas to Life

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

The Raspberry Pi 5, a new version of a small machine beloved by hobbyists, makers and others who need a computer for their projects, will arrive in October with a faster processor and better connectivity.

Raspberry Pi machines are small — about the size of a credit card, though thicker — and inexpensive, costing $60 for a model with 4GB of memory and $80 for 8GB. Although you can buy one with an optional $10 case, they’re deliberately offered as a bare circuit board studded with electronic components.

That might be intimidating to people used to sleekly packaged laptops and smartphones, but it’s a deliberate choice for the do-it-yourself crowd that likes the Raspberry Pi machines for projects like a remote-controlled Lego car, a laser tripwire, a web programming tutorial machine, an AI-powered mood light that changes colors based on your facial expression, or a cellular automaton simulator based on Conway’s Game of Life. Many such projects rely on the easy connection of displays, cellular modems, speakers or other Raspberry Pi “HATs.” That stands for “hardware attached on top,” by the way. For that, the naked circuit board is an advantage.

The machines aren’t for everybody. But they’re a cheap way to learn about computing technology, which is why you’ll see them in STEM education programs trying to encourage students to get their hands dirty.

The quad-core Arm Broadcom processor that serves as the Raspberry Pi 5’s brain is two to three times faster than the one in the Raspberry Pi 4, the device’s 4-year-old predecessor, according to the foundation that designs the machines. Although the new model requires significantly less power to run a given task, it also has higher peak performance, which means it can consume up to 12 watts of power compared with 8W for the Raspberry Pi 4. That’s one reason the optional Raspberry Pi 5 case includes a cooling fan.

The new model also gets doubled input-output (I/O) performance, thanks to a new processor. It’s the first time that the Raspberry Pi team designed a processor itself. One of its perks is a dedicated PCIe connector that lets you plug in devices like fast NVMe storage devices.

The devices also now can handle two 4K displays running at a refresh rate of 60 frames per second, thanks to two HDMI ports. Also on board are four USB data ports — alas, the old-style rectangular USB-A shape, not the newer USB-C ports that have spread to just about every other corner of the electronics world.

Raspberry Pi devices can run Windows 11, but the more common operating system software is a version of Debian Linux called Raspberry Pi OS.

If you missed out on the first round of massive savings from Amazon this year, you’ll be pleased to hear that you’ll have another chance to save big this October during the second Prime exclusive sale of the year, Prime Big Deal Days. The event kicks off on Oct. 10 and should bring with it plenty of deals on low-cost tablet options.

Should you buy a cheap tablet during a Prime sales event?

The short answer: It depends. We’d highly recommend any of Amazon’s Fire tablets, especially at the October Prime Day pricing we’ll likely see during the Prime Big Deal Days event. However, the sub-$100 Android tablets you’ll see around are not worth your time or money.

OK, but should you buy a cheap tablet during Prime Big Deal Days?

The longer answer: If you’re considering buying a cheap tablet right about now, you might want to hold off on any purchases until Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days shopping event rolls around. We now know the event will kick off on October 10 and 11, and we expect tablets to be a category that gets some attention in the sale — especially the affordable sort that Amazon makes.

While we might not see Apple’s iPad Pro lineup fall to bargain-basement prices, we will surely see some colossal savings on Amazon’s Fire tablets — it’s an Amazon shopping event after all — and these are some of the best tablets around for the price-conscious.

Other inexpensive tablets from the likes of Samsung and Lenovo will likely fall in price too, and we may see some movement in price for the entry-level iPad. It’s worth noting that you’ll see some discounts on brands you’ve never heard of during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event and, with prices likely to be under $100, these tablet deals may be tempting, but we recommend that you stay away from those and buy something from a trusted brand instead, even if it costs a little extra.

Which cheap tablet should I buy?

The tablet market is dominated by Apple’s iPad. If you want to stick with Apple and its familiar iPadOS software then you only have one choice when it comes to budget buys: the 10.2-inch iPad. Despite sitting at the bottom of Apple’s lineup, it’s still a very capable device, especially if your needs include simple browser and app-based tasks, though it’s certainly not the cheapest option.

If you’re willing to deviate from the Apple ecosystem, then Amazon’s Fire line of tablets is the top choice for many. Its Fire 7 tablet has dropped as low as $30 during previous Prime Day sales and the company often takes as much as 50% off its kid-friendly tablets. Though they’re cheap in price, the experience of using a Fire tablet is actually pretty good, especially for browsing, streaming video and, yes, shopping on Amazon.

Various Android tablet-makers produce lower-end devices and some of the products in the $200-to-$250 price range are worth a look if you are so inclined. Devices like the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8, Lenovo Tab M10 Plus and Nokia T20 are decent examples and may drop to new price lows, though most folks would still be better served by a cheaper Fire tablet.

Google is expanding access to its generative artificial intelligence-powered search experience, or SGE, opening it up to teens aged 13 to 17, the company said Thursday in a blog post. Beginning this week, if you’re between 13 and 17 and are signed in to a Google account, you can sign up for the company’s Search Labs, which will include access to SGE.

“Generative AI can help younger people ask questions they couldn’t typically get answered by a search engine and pose follow-up questions to help them dig deeper,” the company said in the post.

According to Google, users aged 18 to 24 who currently have access to SGE “are finding this experience especially useful. They’ve given us particularly positive feedback about how these capabilities make it possible to search for information in a more conversational, natural way, and ask follow-up questions.”

Both SGE in search and SGE while browsing can be turned on or off from the Google Search Labs home page.

From the use of the word “responsibly” in the post’s headline, it’s obvious that Google is aware that mixing AI and younger users could be controversial.

“As we introduce this new technology to teens, we want to strike the right balance in creating opportunities for them to benefit from all it has to offer, while also prioritizing safety and meeting their developmental needs,” the post said.

It goes on to note that Google has built additional safeguards into the experience for teens.

“SGE’s quality protections are designed to prevent inappropriate or harmful content from surfacing,” the post reads. “For example, we’ve put stronger guardrails in place for outputs related to illegal or age-gated substances or bullying, among other issues. And as we gather even more feedback, we will continue to improve how our systems respond, working with experts along the way to better protect teens.”

In August, Google gave its Search Generative Experience a major update in the Google App and later in the Chrome web browser. SGE can summarize web pages and also show definitions of unfamiliar words.

In July, Google was one of four leading artificial intelligence companies, including Microsoft, to launch the Frontier Model Forum, an industry group aimed at identifying best AI safety practices and promoting its responsible use.

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

Netflix gave everyone the chance to find love with the release of the game Netflix Stories: Love is Blind on Wednesday, a few days after the release of the fifth season of the series Love is Blind. You can play the game for free and without ads or paywalls with a Netflix subscription (starting at $7, 7 or AU$7 a month) on Android and iOS devices.

The game was developed by Boss Fight Entertainment. Netflix acquired the studio in 2022, and the founders of Boss Fight said at the time they were excited to join Netflix and focus on creating fun games.

Netflix Stories: Love is Blind is an interactive story-based game where you search for love without seeing who you’re talking to. You customize your character, and when you’re happy with how you look you step into the pods.

Then you talk with different characters behind the glowing blue wall from the show. You’ll likely hit some bumps on the way as you talk with more people, but if you keep an ear out, you might find the perfect match for you.

You can access this game and others with any of Netflix’s subscriptions, which start at $7 a month. To access games, open the Netflix app on your Android or iOS device, scroll down the homepage until you see the Mobile Games carousel, and tap into the game you want to play.

At Code Conference 2023, Adobe has announced the launch of Photoshop for the web after over a year of beta testing — and it’s available now. Unfortunately, it does seem to be replacing the free, limited web version that the company had started testing in select markets in June 2022.

Photoshop on the web works within any browser, Adobe senior vice president Ashley Still said while sharing the news on the Code Conference stage late Wednesday.

Not only can you create and edit from within a browser, you can also “open any file that has ever been created through Photoshop before. So any PSD 30 years old, six months old, etcetera,” Still said.

Further, Photoshop on the web users can access generative artificial intelligence tools powered by Adobe’s Firefly generative AI: Generative Fill and Generative Expand. These AI tools allow you to expand an image beyond its original dimensions and fill in the edges. Other tools can remove objects, a la the Google Pixel’s Magic Eraser.

The web version of Photoshop has a streamlined user experience with a redesigned layout, according to The Verge. You can sign up for a free seven-day trial here.

Disney Plus will begin cracking down password sharing and use your account outside of your household on Nov. 1, with the new rules kicking off in Canada.

The streaming service reportedly sent email notices to its Canadian subscribers Wednesday, detailing new account sharing rules.

“Unless otherwise permitted by your service tier, you may not share your subscription outside of your household,” the notice said, according to Mobile Syrup. “If we determine that you have violated this agreement, we may limit or terminate access to the service and/or take any other steps as permitted by this agreement.”

Disney CEO Bob Iger had said last month that the company planned to crack down on password sharing, following in the footsteps of streaming giant Netflix, which started charging $8 for extra users on an account earlier this year.

Netflix’s account-sharing rules allow premium subscribers to have two extra people on their account; standard subscribers can add one extra person; and the lower tiers don’t allow any extra users. It’s unknown yet whether Disney Plus will have similar rules according to your plan tier.

Disney Plus will be increasing its pricing on Oct. 12, including for its bundled services with Hulu. The streaming provider didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.