Category: Technologies

  • Disney to Hike Price of Ad-Free Hulu, Disney Plus

    Disney to Hike Price of Ad-Free Hulu, Disney Plus

    Disney is raising the price of several of its streaming offerings, including ad-free Hulu and Disney Plus, in the US.

    Beginning Oct. 12, the ad-free version of Disney Plus will cost $14 per month (currently $11 per month) and Hulu without ads will cost $18 per month (currently $15 per month), the company said Wednesday. An annual Disney Plus without ads subscription will go from $110 per year to $140. The monthly price of Disney Plus and Hulu’s ad-supported tiers will not change, and neither will the annual price of ad-based Hulu.

    Disney is also introducing a new bundle on Sept. 6 and raising the price of two of its existing bundles that combine subscriptions to Disney Plus, Hulu and the ad-supported streaming service ESPN Plus (what the company calls a “Trio” bundle). The new bundle, Duo Premium, includes ad-free Disney Plus and Hulu and costs $20 per month, a $12 monthly savings if you were paying for the ad-free versions of both services separately.

    The existing Trio Basic (ad-supported versions of Disney Plus, ESPN Plus and Hulu) bundle will cost $15 per month, up from $13, and Trio Premium (which is the same services but without ads for Disney Plus or Hulu) will cost $25 per month, up from $20.

    The Trio Basic price increase will be in October while Disney didn’t specify when Trio Premium will increase.

    Standalone ESPN Plus is also getting a hike to its yearly and monthly price in October. It’s currently $10 per month and will rise to $11 per month. Its yearly cost will increase from $100 to $110 annually.

    In addition, Hulu Plus Live TV with ads, which currently costs $70 per month, will cost $77 come October and the version that includes Hulu without ads, which costs $83 per month, will jump to $90 per month.

    Disney has increased the price of its streaming platforms each year since 2019, with the last hike implemented in fall 2022. Other streamers to announce price increases in the past few weeks include Starz, Paramount Plus and Peacock.

  • YouTube Will Display a Blank Home Feed if Your Watch History Is Turned Off

    YouTube Will Display a Blank Home Feed if Your Watch History Is Turned Off

    Right now, YouTube has some suggestions for me. It thinks I might like to tune in to a live webcam from Venice or Italy, or clips from the adorable kids’ show Bluey, or maybe watch someone taste-test all the Gatorade flavors. But going forward, if you choose to turn off your YouTube watch history, you won’t be shown any recommendations.

    Instead, your home page will be blank.

    “Starting today, if you have YouTube watch history off and have no significant prior watch history, features that require watch history to provide video recommendations will be disabled — like your YouTube home feed,” a company representative said in a blog post. “This means that starting today, your home feed may look a lot different: you’ll be able to see the search bar and the left-hand guide menu, with no feed of recommended videos, thus allowing you to more easily search, browse subscribed channels and explore Topic tabs instead.”

    YouTube says the changes will roll out “slowly, over the next few months.” The company says the change should make it “more clear which YouTube features rely on watch history to provide video recommendations and make it more streamlined for those of you who prefer to search rather than browse recommendations.”

    Currently, YouTube offers up a page full of thumbnails and links to videos that you may want to watch. Once the change happens, you can switch your watch history on at any time if you want to. It can be changed on the My Google Activity settings page. But some users may prefer to search directly for videos rather than be influenced by YouTube’s suggestions, and to keep their watch history from fueling Google’s algorithms.

  • Disney to Crack Down on Password Sharing Too

    Disney to Crack Down on Password Sharing Too

    The Walt Disney Co. is planning its own password-sharing crackdown for its global streaming customers, following in Netflix’s footsteps. Disney CEO Bob Iger made the announcement during the company’s third-quarter earnings call on Wednesday, saying that the company is “actively exploring ways to address account-sharing and the best options for paying subscribers.”

    The entertainment giant has three streaming platforms — Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus — with a global subscriber base of 146.1 million for Disney Plus. Iger stated that account-sharing is a priority for 2024, but that Disney will start updating its subscriber agreements later this year “with additional terms on our sharing policies.” The media company will look to optimize these policies to help drive monetization in the new calendar year.

    Since his return to Disney last November, Iger has committed to growing profitability for its streaming business. One of the ways Netflix sought to curb subscriber losses was through enforcing its password-sharing policies by charging extra member fees. US customers who share their accounts with anyone outside of their primary household must pay an additional $8 per month.

    As Disney starts exploring its own password strategy, customers should prepare to pay more for their ad-free Disney Plus and Hulu subscriptions. The company is implementing another price hike on Oct. 12, with plans to add a new ad-free bundle option on Sept. 6.

  • Baldur’s Gate 3 Review: RPG Gaming Hits New Level on Steam Deck

    Baldur’s Gate 3 Review: RPG Gaming Hits New Level on Steam Deck

    Baldur’s Gate 3 is the RPG to play on the Steam Deck. I’ve spent time playing the game on both desktop and the portable PC gaming device and what makes Baldur’s Gate 3 a great game for Steam Deck is the option to play an hour here and there wherever you are, whether you’re on the go or just away from your desk, as the game is so vast and time-consuming.

    Developed by Larian Studios, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a long-awaited entry in the series that started in the late ’90s. There hasn’t been a proper sequel since 2000. After being in early access for three years on Steam, the game launches Thursday for $60. If you love RPGs like I do, you’ll find plenty of reasons to love the game.

    Raise the Gate

    Baldur’s Gate is based on the Dungeons & Dragons pen-and-paper RPG. The story goes that your character, along with several companions, has been abducted by mind flayers (you know, like from Stranger Things), and they’ve implanted parasites into your brain. It’s now up to the group to get these little monsters out of their heads before it turns them into mind flayers.

    The game uses turn-based gameplay where characters use weapons, magic and other skills in combat. To give an experience resembling a Dungeons & Dragons game, there are a lot of choices available in Baldur’s Gate 3. While this is a pretty common aspect of role-playing games today, what isn’t is the inclusion of a 20-sided die.

    Decisions such as using intimidation, searching around an area or even petting an animal are all determined by the roll of the dice. It’s this uncertainty of these choices that make Baldur’s Gate 3 so thrilling. In one instance, a child was trying to scam me into buying a “magical” trinket, and I had the choice to point out his lies. Since I was playing as a rogue, I was able to win all the rolls to prove that the kid was lying. This led to an interesting interaction that could change things further in the game.

    This freedom to make so many choices and to have them change the game slightly is what gives Baldur’s Gate 3 an incredible amount of replay value. The developer says there are more than a thousand endings.

    There’s also a surprising amount to explore. A dried-up well seems innocent enough, but if you explore it, you can find a giant nest of magical spiders ready to destroy your party. You’ll also come across a wealth of characters with their own problems that you can help with or just ignore. Or if you want to go the evil route, there’s the option to just steal from and kill many of the characters in the game. I spent most of my time being the good guy, but there were times that I did something bad, like when I accidentally looted a merchant’s chest. Some actions will just get people upset at you, while others can land you in jail.

    Newcomers to RPGs, or at least D&D RPGs, might find Baldur’s Gate 3 to be both overwhelming and difficult. It may seem hard, but the game requires a lot of thought in and out of battle. With so many decisions, it is very likely players will make the wrong one, which is why saving the game often is vital.

    a group in baldurs gate 3 overlooks a valley from a cliff

    Good things come in small packages

    Baldur’s Gate 3’s visuals are both stylish and detailed, and come off looking great on the Steam Deck. It takes a little tweaking of the display options to get the right settings to keep the game running smoothly while still showing off all the beautiful graphics. For me, this meant keeping the frames per second at 30, bringing down the resolution from its max setting of 1,280×800 pixels and putting the overall quality preset to medium. Also, expect to get your hands warm as the Steam Deck’s fans will be blowing hot air to keep it cool while playing, but the lowered setting should be able to get about two hours of gameplay.

    I did also have an issue getting the game to launch on Steam Deck, requiring me to go into the game’s settings on Steam and force it to launch. It’s likely this will not be needed with the game’s official release.

    Baldur’s Gate 3 launches on Steam on Thursday. It’ll head to the PS5 in September and eventually to the Xbox Series X and S.

  • Anker’s Ultrafast M5 3D Printer Is $240 Off Right Now at Amazon

    Anker’s Ultrafast M5 3D Printer Is $240 Off Right Now at Amazon

    Whether you’re a 3D printing novice looking to grab your first printer, or you’ve already got some experience and are ready to upgrade, we’ve got a deal you won’t want to miss. The AnkerMake M5 earned its place on our list of the best 3D printers of 2023 thanks to its record-breaking print speeds. Amazon currently has this printer on sale for $559, which saves you a whopping $240 compared to the usual price. There’s no set expiration for this deal, so get your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

    If you’re looking for your first 3D printer, you should opt for a machine that’s easy to use and produces excellent quality. The AnkerMake M5 has several features that make your life easier. Features like auto bed-leveling, filament runout sensors and AI for detecting errors help you get the best print you can from the get-go. Setting it up is very easy.

    The print quality is extremely good, especially if you slow the printer to about 180 millimeters per second. It also has the added bonus of a time-lapse camera, which lets you record your model as it prints so you can share it on social media. It’s a great all-round printer. With $240 off its standard price, the AnkerMake M5 is a deal you don’t want to miss.

  • The 14 Best K-Dramas to Stream on Netflix Right Now

    The 14 Best K-Dramas to Stream on Netflix Right Now

    With a commitment to spend more than $2 billion on Korean productions over the next four years,Netflix has huge ambitions for Korean films and TV series. Shows like Squid Game have become global sensations, and the streamer’s slate continues to grow. Although reality series like Physical: 100 and Single’s Inferno have gained popularity, the streaming service’s K-drama lineup is drawing viewers in with its portfolio of trippy sci-fi dramas, zombie stories, romances and more.

    The platform is dropping new shows, documentaries and six films throughout 2023. We’ve created a list of the best K-dramas on Netflix (besides Squid Game), and in some cases, tell you when to look out for new seasons. If you’re still digging for additional titles, try searching with this special hidden code: 68699.

    Read more: Best Streaming Services for K-Dramas

  • Grab Pixel Buds A-Series Wireless Earbuds for $59 (Save $40)

    Grab Pixel Buds A-Series Wireless Earbuds for $59 (Save $40)

    Need a solid pair of everyday earbuds, but don’t want to spend a fortune? Whether you use your earbuds to focus, relax or stay motivated during a workout, there are options out there with solid sound quality that won’t break the bank. And right now Amazon has slashed the price on the already affordable Google Pixel Buds A-Series by 40%, dropping the price from $99 down to just $59. We don’t know how long this offer will last, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later.

    If you’re looking for a cheap pair of everyday earbuds, the A-Series can fit the bill. They’re light and comfortable, but offer good sound for the price, along with solid call quality if you’re looking for an option to help you stay connected on the go. These buds even have an adaptive sound mode that will shift the volume automatically in response to the ambient noise in your environment. And if you need directions, translations or other help, you can get help hands-free with access to Google Assistant.

    As for battery life, you can expect to get up to 5 hours of playback per charge, with an additional 19 hours with the charging case. These earbuds are also IPX4-rated sweat-resistant, so whether you wear them at the gym or get caught in inclement weather on your commute, these buds can handle it.

    And if you want to see what other options are out there, be sure to check out our roundup of the best earbuds and headphones deals happening now.

  • Catch Big Savings on These Tech Deals From StockX

    Catch Big Savings on These Tech Deals From StockX

    StockX took the world by storm when it launched back in 2016. The online marketplace quickly became the go-to spot for sneakers of all kinds, as long as buyers were willing to pay those steep markups. Over the years, StockX has pivoted to selling game consoles and other tech gadgets. And while most items still come with a premium price tag, there are some great deals around. Right now, StockX is offering stellar savings, and here’s what we recommend checking out.

    Looking for more discounts? CNET has the current StockX coupons and promo code offers, updated and verified daily.

    Welcome to CNET Coupons, the first stop before you shop, featuring a multitude of deals and discounts from top online retailers. Simply head over to our coupon page and type in your favorite store or brands to find all the deals available for the week.

  • Amazon Knocks Up to 59% Off Some of the PS5’s Most Popular Games

    Amazon Knocks Up to 59% Off Some of the PS5’s Most Popular Games

    Nearly three years after its release, we’re finally starting to see some deals on Sony’s popular PlayStation 5. And if you’ve finally got your hands on one of these next-gen consoles, you’re probably eager to start enjoying some of its most popular games. You’ll get access to a huge library of older games with a PS Plus subscription, but if you want to try out some of the more recent titles, Amazon has some great deals available right now.

    The online retailer is currently offering discounts on some of the PS5’s biggest games, with many down by more than 50%. With Spider-Man 2 coming in just a few months, you may be looking to get caught up on the action-packed series. Right now, you can grab the Ultimate Edition of Spider-Man: Miles Morales — which also includes the original Spider-Man game from 2018 — for just $39, which saves you $31 compared to the usual price. Or transport yourself to feudal Japan with the director’s cut of Ghost of Tsushima. This cinematic open-world game features razor-sharp combat, and is on sale for just $30, which saves you $40 compared to the usual price. And those who enjoy a serious challenge can pick up the recent remaster of Demon’s Souls — the predecessor of FromSoftware’s infamous Dark Souls series — for $40 off, which drops the price down to just $30.

    There are some other great games on sale at Amazon, and you can check out our full roundup of all the best PS5 deals for more bargains on hardware and accessories.

  • WhatsApp Competes With Zoom by Introducing Screen Sharing. Here’s How to Do It

    WhatsApp Competes With Zoom by Introducing Screen Sharing. Here’s How to Do It

    Meta’s messaging app WhatsApp is positioning itself as more of a Zoom, Teams and Skype competitor by introducing screen sharing during video calls.

    The new feature, announced by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Tuesday, is leaving beta and will be rolled out gradually to all WhatsApp users over the next few weeks.

    “We’re adding the ability to share your screen during a video call on WhatsApp,” Zuckerberg posted in his Instagram broadcast channel Tuesday.

    How to share your screen on a WhatsApp video call

    If you’re one of the lucky few who already have access to the feature, here’s how to use it:

    1. Start a video call with one or more people.
    2. Click the new Share icon.
    3. Choose whether to share a specific application or your entire screen.
    4. Your screen will then be shared with all participants on the call in landscape view. Their video icons will still be visible on the right side of your screen.

    Meta has been focused on bringing new features to expand the use of WhatsApp over the last few months, including instant video messages, channels to follow people and brands, locking your intimate chats, editing sent messages, Wear OS integration and the ability to use WhatsApp across multiple phones and move your messages to a new phone.

    Read more: Best Phone to Buy for 2023