Category: Technologies

Apple hasn’t even announced the iPhone 16 yet, but we’re already starting to hear about its plans for the iPhone 17, which will likely launch in 2025.

Longtime supply-chain analyst Ross Young posted on X on Wednesday that he’d heard that the iPhone 17 Plus will come with a smaller screen than the 6.7-inch display on the current-generation iPhone 15 Plus. The post was written about earlier by MacRumors.

Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Apple changing the screen size of its iPhones wouldn’t be much of a surprise, though it is noteworthy. The company has always seemed comfortable fiddling with screen sizes, particularly as its product lineup expanded from one iPhone each year to multiple models, starting with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in 2014.

It’s unclear why Apple would opt for a smaller-size screen for its iPhone 17 Plus, but MacRumors suggests the change could help further differentiate the Plus model from its more expensive Pro Max cousin. Though Apple is expected to increase the screen size of its upcoming iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max this fall, changing the screen size on the iPhone 17 Plus would likely help each iPhone stand apart even more.

It’s also possible Apple has learned through customer feedback that customers who look at the Plus-size iPhones want a device that’s bigger than the entry-level iPhone but not as big as the Pro Max.

Read more: iPhone 16: Major Rumors About Apple’s Next iPhone

As mentioned, Apple is expected this year to adjust screen sizes of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, which will reportedly have slimmer bezel borders and larger displays. So it’s only natural to believe Apple would then focus its screen-fiddling energy on the entry-level iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus next year.

You might be tempted to think Apple has this screen-size thing all worked out. Currently, Apple’s lineup seems rather fixed at a $799 entry-level iPhone, followed by a larger entry-level iPhone Plus for $899, and then a $999 Pro level, with larger Pro Max versions starting at $1,099. But Apple only stumbled on that formula after attempting to sell a 5.4-inch iPhone Mini as far back as 2021.

The iPhone Mini earned positive reviews from critics, including CNET’s Patrick Holland, who wrote in 2020 that the iPhone 12 Mini was the “small phone we’ve been asking for,” adding that it was “a one-handed phone user’s dream.” Alas, Apple switched to larger entry-level phones with the iPhone 14 line in 2022.

Read more: Best iPhone to buy in 2024

Today’s Wordle answer features some pretty common letters, and it’s a well-known word. But depending on your starter words, you might take a few guesses to get it. If you need some clues, read on.

Every day, we’ll post hints and then the answer for the current day’s Wordle, just in case you need it.

Today’s Wordle hints

Warning: If you keep reading, you’ll see the Wordle answer for Friday, April 19, puzzle No. 1035 (preceded by hints that might give it away). That could be a devastating spoiler for some players. But if you just need the answer — maybe you’re on your last guess and simply don’t want to see an 800-game streak go poof — keep reading.

Wordle hint No. 1: No repeats

There are no repeated letters in today’s answer.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

Today’s Wordle answer has three vowels.

Wordle hint No. 3: Starter

Today’s Wordle answer begins with R.

Wordle hint No. 4: Money meaning

Today’s Wordle answer is something many employed people would love to get.

Wordle hint No. 5: Ending letter

Today’s Wordle answer ends with a vowel.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Here comes the spoiler: Today’s Wordle answer is: RAISE, as in to lift or move something – or an increase in one’s salary.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s answer, No. 1034, was FACET.

Past Wordle answers

April 14, No. 1030 BLIMP
April 15, No. 1031 EQUIP
April 16, No. 1032 SHANK
April 17, No. 1033: TITHE

Everyday Wordle tips

I’ve written a lot about Wordle — from covering its 1,000th word to my list of the best starter words to a helpful two-step strategy to news about controversial word changes. I’ve even rounded up what I learned playing the hit online word puzzle for a full year. So if you’re rethinking your need for the actual answer, you might try tips from one of those stories.

Still need a starter word? One person told me they just look around and choose a five-letter object that they’ve spotted to use as their starter word — such as COUCH or CHAIR. I tend to stick to starter words that have the most popular letters used in English words. I like TRAIN as a starter, though I have a friend who uses TRAIL. I’ve read that people use the financial term ROATE, but I like to use words I actually know.

What is Wordle?

If you read this far, you know how to play. You have six chances to guess a five-letter word, and the game gives you feedback as to whether the letters you’ve guessed are in the puzzle, and if they’re in the same spot where you guessed they are. The New York Times bought the game from creator Josh Wardle for seven figures in 2022. Wardle famously created the game for his partner and let her narrow down the 12,000 five-letter words in the English language to just 2,500, creating the database of answers. It was convenient, too, that he has a name that plays off “word.”

A Times spokesperson told me it lists the very first Wordle as appearing on June 19, 2021, and the paper celebrated the game’s 1000th word on March 15. Spoiler: That 1000th word was ERUPT. As in, “Dad will erupt if the Wordle is so tough he loses his streak.”

There are other fun games in the Times Games stable. My latest addiction is Connections, which I think is trickier than Wordle. This is the game where you look at a grid of 16 words and try to put them into four groups of related words. Sometimes the relationships between the words are pretty out there — like the time when it was four words that all began with rock bands, such as “Rushmore” and “journeyman.” (Connections got a little sassy on April Fools’ Day with an all-emoji puzzle. Some gamers did NOT find that funny.)

Spelling Bee is a popular Times game too. And there’s a new game that’s still in beta, Strands, which I’m trying to master.

Meta AI, an open-source generative AI tool by Meta, is now powered by the more robust Llama 3 large language model, the company said in a press release Thursday.

There are two varieties of Llama 3 available: Llama 3 8B, which has 8 billion parameters, and Llama 3 70B, which has 70 billion. Generally, the more parameters an AI model has, the better the outputs. Meta’s goal is to create the best open model available, one that can compete with the finest proprietary AI models on the market. Meta said that because these models are open source, the company can engage with the community as its AI models develop. Right now Llama 3 is just a text-based model, but Meta wants it to be multilingual and multimodal in the future, with the ability to reason and code.

Meta said that in benchmark tests, Llama 3 8B outperformed Mistral 7B and Gemma 7B, two other open-source AIs, from Mistral and Google, respectively. Meta said Llama 3 70B outperformed the new Google Gemini Pro 1.5 and Anthropic’s Claude 3 Sonnet. It should be noted that Sonnet isn’t Anthropic’s most powerful model and also that CNET hasn’t independently verified Meta’s assertions. Meta said that in its own human evaluation tests, Llama 3 70B won against Claude Sonnet, Mistral Medium and OpenAI’s GPT 3.5.

Meta’s strong pivot to artificial intelligence comes after OpenAI caught the rest of Big Tech flat-footed with its release of ChatGPT 3.5 in late 2022. The ChatGPT chatbot marked one of the first instances when average consumers could interact with an AI model that could seemingly answer any question with a unique answer. At Meta Connect last September, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a slew of AI products, including an AI chatbot, an AI image generator, AI-powered Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and AI characters based on celebrities like Snoop Dogg.

Though Meta had been, and still is, investing heavily in virtual reality and the metaverse, it’s since doubled-down on its key moneymaker: social media. That, along with its AI investments, propelled Meta’s stock to an all-time high of $531 per share earlier this month. It also made Zuckerberg the third richest person in the world, surpassing Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

As for safety in Llama 3, Meta said it’s adopted a new “system-level approach to the responsible development and deployment of Llama.” This system uses both humans and automations to try to push the model to serve up “problematic responses,” and to continually tune the model to disallow those outputs.

Llama 3 will be deploying soon, Meta said, and will use fewer resources than Llama 2, despite having more parameters. You can find Meta AI on the web, and as part of the Meta-owned platforms Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger.

Editors’ note: CNET used an AI engine to help create several dozen stories, which are labeled accordingly. The note you’re reading is attached to articles that deal substantively with the topic of AI but are created entirely by our expert editors and writers. For more, see our AI policy.

The 10th Saw movie unleashed more gory traps on theatergoers in September, and soon, “Jigsaw’s most personal game” will reach the Starz streaming service.

Saw X takes place after the events of Saw (2004) and before Saw II (2005), when Tobin Bell’s John Kramer, desperately searching for a cure for his cancer, uncovers a scam to defraud the most vulnerable, according to a synopsis. Gruesome traps inevitably follow as the Jigsaw Killer deals with the con artists as he does best.

Shawnee Smith also reprises her role as Amanda in the 10th entry, which ranks the highest out of the franchise on Rotten Tomatoes. Here’s when you can stream the newest Saw film on the Starz app, and how a VPN could potentially come in handy. The next Saw movie, Saw XI, has been pushed back a year to September 2025, but you can watch this in the meantime.

When you can watch Saw X on Starz

Want to play a game? Viewers in the US can access Saw X on Starz on April 19 at 12:01 a.m. ET/April 18 at 9:01  p.m. PT.

For $10 a month, the ad-free streaming service gives you access to original series like Outlander, P-Valley and Party Down. Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is hitting the platform next month, and you can watch other Lionsgate films, like John Wick: Chapter 4 and Expend4bles now.

How to watch Saw X from anywhere with a VPN

Perhaps you’re traveling abroad and want to stream Starz 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 movie 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, 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 met our 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 Saw X will be streaming on Starz. Before you open the streaming app, make sure you’re connected to your VPN, using your selected region. If you want to stream Saw X 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 Starz 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.

At a developer conference in Shenzhen, China, this week, tech company Baidu announced its Ernie chatbot has amassed 200 million users in eight months.

While this is a fraction of China’s population, Nicole Greene, a VP analyst at research firm Gartner, noted Ernie fills a market gap due to government restrictions.

While US consumers have had access to generative AI since November 2022, tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot aren’t available in China. As a result, homegrown tech companies like Baidu are eager to capitalize on the opportunity to serve an unmet need — and, like US companies, they are eager to tout advancements.

Jason Alan Snyder, global CTO of Momentum Worldwide, called Ernie “a major milestone in Chinese AI development … [which] demonstrates the country’s commitment to rivaling Western tech giants in the generative AI race.”

If this is the first you’ve heard of Ernie, this explainer is for you. Here’s everything you need to know about the Chinese AI tool.

What is Ernie?

Ernie Bot is a large language model and generative AI tool. Like ChatGPT, users interact via text to create content. But instead of English, Ernie understands Chinese — and, according to Baidu, its responses “[approach] human level.”

In a blog post, Baidu said Ernie is capable of multi-modal generation, which means it can create different types of content like text and visuals. This includes both literary and business writing, as well as mathematical calculations. (It can also create a variety of Thanksgiving turkey images.)

Read more: AI Atlas: Your Guide to Today’s Artificial Intelligence

Why did Baidu name this bot Ernie?

Ernie stands for Enhanced Representation through Knowledge Integration.

How do you use Ernie?

To access Ernie, users can visit Baidu’s website or download the bot from app stores.

They must create an account and be logged in to make queries. Users outside China can access Ernie. However, in order to sign up for an account, you must provide an ID number from a Chinese resident identity card.

How long has Ernie been available?

Baidu launched Ernie in March 2023.

However, it wasn’t publicly available until August 2023. Reports say that’s when Chinese regulators gave Baidu approval for rollout. (Baidu didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.)

Who are Ernie’s competitors?

Alibaba has a large language model called Tongyi Qianwen, which debuted in April 2023. AI platform SenseTime released its SenseChat chatbot the same month, while TikTok owner ByteDance was reportedly testing a chatbot code-named Grace in June 2023, and WeChat owner Tencent announced its Hunyuan chatbot in September 2023.

ByteDance didn’t respond to a request for comment.

What is Ernie’s latest version?

Ernie 4.0 was released in October 2023.

Baidu CEO Robin Li noted Ernie 4.0 can better understand complex requests and generate text, images and videos.

Baidu announced Ernie 3.5 four months earlier, which the tech company said included improvements in writing, reasoning and code generation, as well as in its ability to make inferences.

Like many US chatbot models, Ernie 3.5 is reportedly free for the public to use, while Ernie 4.0 is accessible via a subscription.

How does Ernie compare to US chatbots?

While functionality and access are similar, Baidu said Ernie 3.5 can beat GPT-4 in multiple Chinese language capabilities.

While we don’t necessarily have an apples-to-apples comparison for reach, Baidu said Ernie has 200 million users. In November 2023, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said ChatGPT had 100 million weekly users.

What are the risks associated with Ernie?

Ernie faces the same challenges as US chatbots, including hallucinations, as well as security, privacy and copyright violations, along with ethical and bias concerns and deepfakes.

But chatbots in China face the additional challenge of government censorship, which experts say can make the problem of chatbot bias even worse.

For more CNET reviews of generative AI tools like Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, along with all the latest AI news, tips and explainers, see our new AI Atlas project.

Editors’ note: CNET used an AI engine to help create several dozen stories, which are labeled accordingly. The note you’re reading is attached to articles that deal substantively with the topic of AI but are created entirely by our expert editors and writers. For more, see our AI policy.

The USB-C is a universal port that is compatible with almost all devices, including tablets and laptops. Even Apple is beginning to incorporate the USB-C port into their devices. Traditionally, these USB-C hubs have only one or two ports. This one by Baseus has a generous seven ports you can use. It’s on sale for a limited time for only $16, much less than its original price of $40.

With an increase in the sheer number and styles of USB-C devices and accessories on the market, it can be hard to pick one. The Baseus 7-in-1 USB hub has many different types of ports, so you can use it to connect many types of devices. It has one HDMI port, three USB 3.0 ports, one SD/TF card slot and one USB-C PD port. It should cover all your connectivity needs in one slim, modern design, making work easier.

Enjoy stunning 4K clarity at 60Hz and rapid charging with the 100W USB-C PD port. You can also easily transfer files at a fast speed with USB 3.0, and access your multimedia effortlessly. Its compatibility with various devices and plug-and-play functionality on multiple systems mean it’ll be your go-to solution for seamless connectivity. Snag this one while you can as this deal is available for a limited time only.

If you’re looking for a USB-C monitor to use it with, check out our list of the top USB-C monitor deals happening now.

West Ham have it all to do on Thursday as they host Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of this UEFA Europa League quarterfinal at the London Stadium.

Despite a disciplined defensive display in the opening encounter in Germany last week, the Hammers slipped to a 2-0 defeat, leaving them with the challenging task of beating a side that has yet to suffer a defeat in any competition this season.

The hosts will be without suspended pair Lucas Paquetá and Emerson Palmieri, but could be boosted by the return of top scorer Jarrod Bowen.

Bayer Leverkusen secured the first Bundesliga title in their history at the weekend, and Xabi Alonso will be determined to ensure his side don’t suffer any hangover from that triumph, as they go in search of another piece of silverware.

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

West Ham vs. Bayer Leverkusen: When and where?

West Ham host Bayer Leverkusen at the London Stadium on Thursday, April 18. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. BST local time in the UK, which is 3 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 5 a.m. AEST on Friday, April 19 in Australia.

How to watch West Ham vs. Bayer Leverkusen online from anywhere using a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view Europa League matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the action — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

Livestream West Ham vs. Bayer Leverkusen in the US

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

Livestream West Ham vs. Bayer Leverkusen in the UK

Europa League live broadcast rights in the UK are held by TNT Sports.

Livestream West Ham vs. Bayer Leverkusen in Canada

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

Livestream West Ham vs. Bayer Leverkusen in Australia

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

Quick tips for streaming UEFA Europa League matches using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming Europa League games may vary.
• If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
• If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
• And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.

Roma host AC Milan in the second leg of this UEFA Europa League quarterfinal, with the hosts taking a slender 1-0 advantage from the first encounter.

Last week’s match at San Siro was an unsurprisingly cagey affair, with Gianluca Mancini’s 17th minute header one of the few clear cut chances, and a similarly tight affair is likely in store today.

The spoils for the victor of this all-Italian tie is a semifinal next month against either West Ham or Bayer Leverkusen.

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

Roma vs. AC Milan: When and where?

Roma host AC Milan at the Stadio Olympico in Rome, on Thursday, April 18. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. CET local time in Italy, which is 3 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PT in the US and Canada, 8 p.m. BST in the UK and 5 a.m. AEST on Friday, April 19, in Australia.

How to watch Roma vs. AC Milan online from anywhere using a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view Europa League matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the action — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

Livestream Roma vs. AC Milan in the US

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

Livestream Roma vs. AC Milan in the UK

Europa League live broadcast rights in the UK are held by TNT Sports.

Livestream Roma vs. AC Milan in Canada

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

Livestream Roma vs. AC Milan in Australia

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

Quick tips for streaming UEFA Europa League matches using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming Europa League games may vary.
• If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
• If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
• And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.

Benfica head to southern France on Thursday holding a slender 2-1 advantage over Marseille, ahead of what looks set to be an entertaining second leg of this UEFA Europa League quarterfinal.

Rafa Silva gave Benfica the lead in last week’s first leg, before Argentinian veteran Angel di Maria doubled their advantage. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s 67th-minute strike, however, will have given Marseille hope of turning the tie around at home today in the intimidating confines of the Stade Vélodrome.

Ismaila Sarr, Jonathan Clauss look likely to miss out for the hosts, with both players suffering from hamstring injuries, while left-back Juan Bernat is rated as doubtful for Benfica for today’s game.

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

Marseille vs. Benfica: When and where?

Marseille host Benfica at the Stade Vélodrome on Thursday, April 18. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. CET local time in France, which is 3 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PT in the US and Canada, 8 p.m. BST in the UK and 5 a.m. AEST on Friday, April 19, in Australia.

How to watch Marseille vs. Benfica online from anywhere using a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view Europa League matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the action — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

Livestream Marseille vs. Benfica in the US

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

Livestream Marseille vs. Benfica in the UK

Europa League live broadcast rights in the UK are held by TNT Sports.

Livestream Marseille vs. Benfica in Canada

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

Livestream Marseille vs. Benfica in Australia

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

Quick tips for streaming UEFA Europa League matches using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming Europa League games may vary.
• If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
• If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
• And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.

Aston Villa hold a narrow 2-1 lead as they head to northern France to take on Lille in the second leg of this Europa Conference League quarterfinal.

Goals from Ollie Watkins and John McGinn gave Villa a flying start in the opening encounter. But Bafodé Diakité flicked in a header from Angel Gomes’ cross with just six minutes remaining, earning Lille a potentially crucial goal going into this decisive second leg.

Lille have the advantage of having had a weekend off from domestic Ligue 1 action. Gomes, a former England Under-21 and Man United forward, is likely to have fully recovered from the hamstring injury that restricted him to a brief cameo in the first leg.

Villa boss Unai Emery’s defensive selection options have been boosted by the return of Clément Lenglet and Matty Cash, meanwhile.

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

Lille vs. Aston Villa: When and where?

Lille host Aston Villa at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Thursday, April 18. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. CET local time in France, which is 3 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PT in the US and Canada, 8 p.m. BST in the UK, and 5 a.m. AEST on Friday, April 19 in Australia.

How to watch Lille vs. Aston Villa online from anywhere using a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view Europa Conference League matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the action — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic. It’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

Livestream Lille vs. Aston Villa in the US

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

Livestream Lille vs. Aston Villa in the UK

Europa League live broadcast rights in the UK are held by TNT Sports.

Livestream Lille vs. Aston Villa in Canada

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

Livestream Lille vs. Aston Villa in Australia

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

Quick tips for streaming Europa Conference League matches using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming Europa Conference League games may vary.
• If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
• If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
• 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.