New features are coming to Apple’s Messages thanks to the iOS 17 software update Apple revealed on Monday. But you’ll have to wait to get your hands on it (unless you’re a developer). With iOS 17, you’ll be able to turn pictures into stickers, transcribe voice memos, keep your friends and family notified on your way home, and more.
News about the iOS 17 Messages update came during the keynote address at the Worldwide Developers Conference at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. Apple traditionally uses the annual event to give developers a preview of updates to its desktop and mobile software, and sometimes it introduces new hardware too. On Monday, the company unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Vision Pro.
The update to Messages will be part of iOS 17, which will arrive this fall. With the new features, people will be able to take their photos and turn them into stickers they use in text conversations, alongside standard emoji, which can also be used as stickers. People can customize their stickers with effects — like shiny, puffy, comic and outline — and keep them in a new drawer in the keyboard for streamlined access, Apple said in a press release. Stickers will be available systemwide, including in third-party apps.
To make a photo into a sticker, you’ll touch and hold an object in a photo. Then you can style your object with various effects, outline it or create animated Live Stickers with Live Photos. To use the sticker in Messages, you’ll add them in the bubble from the Tapback menu.
Watch this: Apple Reveals iOS 17
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Search in Messages, Check In and more
Also coming is a refined search feature. People will be able to apply additional filters to their Messages search to more quickly find the exact conversation they’re looking for. Plus, when you’ve received lots of texts in a group chat, you’ll be able to use the catch-up arrow to locate where the conversation left off last.
iOS 17 Messages will also transcribe voice memos you receive, if you don’t have the time to listen to them. Apple also announced a new feature that will let you keep track of your friends by viewing their location in your text conversation.
Apple’s Check In feature through iOS 17.
Screenshot by CNET
Another new location sharing feature is Check In. If you want to keep a friend or family member updated on your journey home, for example, you’ll be able to use Check In, which notifies the person of your whereabouts and lets them know if you’re having trouble getting home. “If they are not making progress toward their destination, useful information will be temporarily shared with the selected contact, such as the device’s location, battery level, and cell service status,” Apple said in the press release. Check In will be end-to-end encrypted, so only you and the person you’re sharing this information with is privy to your location.
The iOS 17 updates don’t stop at Messages. Apple also introduced Live Voicemail, which will give people the ability to see the message a person is leaving you as it is being recorded. This could help with deciphering between important calls that unknown numbers leave and spam.
The iOS 17 update for FaceTime includes audio and video messages, so people can leave their friends and families a FaceTime voicemail of sorts.
Also, if people want to share a contact with one another, they can use the new feature NameDrop. By bringing two iPhones or one iPhone and one Apple Watch close together, contact information can be transferred from one device to the next.
Huge library that covers any era and viewers of all ages
Striking, eye-catching interface
Larger selection of 4K titles
Watch HBO shows as they air
Kids’ content lineup and parental control features
Don’t like
Glitchy user experience
Missing episodes from popular TV shows
High price, even with ads
Max is here. The refashioned streaming service replaces HBO Max and boasts more than 35,000 hours of content with a library twice as big as its predecessor. Blending Discovery Plus titles with the former HBO Max, the revamped service showcases the depth of the Warner Bros. catalog as befits a company that’s been in the entertainment business for 100 years.
HBO has long been considered prestige television with shows like The Sopranos, Game of Thrones and Succession. Warner Bros. Discovery chose to drop HBO from Max’s new name in favor of magnifying all of its brands and broadening its appeal to a larger audience — including kids. (It already has a top spot on our list of the best streaming services for kids.)
Merging all this content under one roof gives the platform a leg up on its biggest rivals: Netflix and Disney Plus. That said, Max is on the pricier side with a starting rate of $10 per month to watch with ads, going up to $20 if you want 4K and more streams.
If you already get access to Max for free, such as with an HBO cable subscription, you should definitely keep it. At the time of this writing, Max still has to work out some bugs with how the app functions to make streaming more seamless. But the breadth of the platform’s catalog and video quality makes it worth having, especially if you’re comfortable paying more money for a streaming service. You can always split the cost with someone outside your household and share your streams. And if you’re someone who only wants to stream Discovery Plus, it’s still available as a separate app.
Prices for Max subscriptions are the same as the old HBO Max: With ads, it’s $10 per month ($100 annually) and ad-free is $16 a month ($150 annually). But the new Ultimate ad-free plan is $20 monthly and will be the only subscription to offer 4K content and Dolby Atmos on select movies and shows. For now, features like 4K access and Dolby Vision will be accessible during the first six months of Max’s launch for legacy customers with the $16 ad-free plan.
Max subscription plans
Ad-Lite
Ad-Free
Ultimate (ad-free)
Monthly price
$10
$16
$20
Number of screens you can watch at the same time
2
2
4
Number of offline downloads
0
30
100
HD available
Yes
Yes
Yes
4K Ultra HD available
No
No
Yes
Though most of the major streaming platforms have raised prices, Max remains among the most expensive services. Its pricing is comparable to Netflix for the ad-free experience, but at least you can still share your password without paying extra. We spent time testing all three subscription tiers and noted any differences between Max and the previous version of the app. Each plan offers something different.
Max’s stable of TV shows and movies is its power
Max has a hefty catalog that carries a range of films and TV series across multiple genres, and there is something for every age group in your household. The marriage between the HBO Max library and Discovery Plus serves up a selection of food, drama, comedy, animation, crime, superheroes, nature docs and lifestyle. In addition to HBO titles and Max originals, you’ll find DC, Studio Ghibli, CNN, Sesame Street, Looney Toons, Food Network, Magnolia Network, TLC, TCM, The CW and more — including the massive vault of Warner Bros. film and TV shows that spans a century. Only some things from Discovery Plus are on the platform though — namely the most popular content.
Warner Bros. Discovery says it will roll out “40 new titles and seasons every month” on the service. At launch, the service debuted new Max originals like Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai and SmartLess: On The Road, along with HBO originals such as Reality (starring Sydney Sweeney). The catalog will continue to expand in the coming months, including platform exclusives.
Gizmo has an original series on Max that’s perfect for the whole family.
Max
The Justice League lives here with other DC properties, and Discovery’s stash of documentaries and reality TV shows is a click away. HBO favorites like Succession, The White Lotus, The Last of Us and House of the Dragon are available to stream as they air live on the cable network, with new episodes arriving each week. And you can still stream TCM classics such as Dirty Harry and National Lampoon’s Vacation on the platform.
Max’s offerings for kids are a highlight of the service, with plenty to stream from Elmo, Cartoon Network, Scooby Doo, Lego, DC, all versions of Teen Titans and a host of originals. That includes preschool content like Blippi, family movies and teen-friendly TV shows, animation and film franchises.
While exploring the content, I noticed missing episodes for some shows like Regular Show, which is a staple in my household. Steven Universe is seemingly intact, but other series like Amazing World of Gumball, Impractical Jokers and We Bare Bears are not. It’s unclear whether this is a temporary bug, a licensing matter or if Max is in the process of removing more content.
On HBO Max, there were less than 40 movies and TV shows available to stream in 4K HDR. If you have the Ultimate plan and a device that supports 4K, you’ll be able to stream more than 1,000 titles, including Avatar: The Way of Water, House of the Dragon, Dune, The Wizard of Oz, Goodfellas, And Just Like That…, Euphoria and all the Harry Potter films. If you type “4K” in the search bar, 27 shows and movies pop up, but you should look for the format in the title’s description.
Warner Bros. Discovery said the 4K lineup might change, but you can find a list of what was available at launch by visiting this page. Be aware the company will continue to remove titles from the Max service as part of its cost-cutting strategy.
Before I dive into the experience of using Max, you should know my early testing was filled with glitches. Max arrived on May 23, days before Memorial Day weekend — prime time for streaming. I spent more than a week getting acquainted with Max, learning its strengths and flaws while comparing it to its previous incarnation and its competitors.
There were some hiccups. Just switching from the old purple HBO Max app on my Roku stick and Amazon Fire TV device to the new blue Max app was filled with frustration. And even after my week-long jaunt into Max, its performance was still less than smooth. Some of the glitches were minor e.g. a show host’s picture didn’t match the name in the description. Others, such as the TV app freezing and eventually kicking me out or some particularly wonky navigation, were more of an issue. For example, I found myself in a seemingly endless scroll of titles trying to reach the screen’s bottom, when suddenly the selector box got cut off, the app froze and my TV screen turned into a blue abyss.
But at least my profiles, watch list and Continue Watching rows all migrated without a hitch. I didn’t lose any playback progress for movies and shows that I stopped, either. And despite the bugs, the video quality on Max is top-notch. The phone app experience was considerably better, too. Max is actively working out any kinks on all platforms based on customer feedback, so the overall experience should get smoother. We’ll update this review with any progress in a month or two.
I kept losing my place when scrolling up and down rows of content.
Max/Screenshot by CNET
User interface and navigation experience
For the most part, Max appears and operates similarly to HBO Max and other streamers like Hulu and Netflix. As promised, the rebranded service comes with some improvements and big changes to the user experience. The purple is gone (I miss it, and you may too), but even with the color palette switching to blue — like Paramount Plus, Disney Plus and Sling TV — the TV app is still crisp. The phone version seems darker but is still easy to follow. Among the added enhancements are an expanded set of profile avatars with more than 350 options, a default kid’s profile for new accounts and optimized personalization.
Navigation icons on Max’s phone app are at the bottom of a show’s title page.
Max/Screenshot by CNET
Changes to the home screen, navigation and content organization are noticeable. The top rail has five tabs: Home, TV series, Movies, HBO and “New & Notable.” The prominent placement of the HBO tab is helpful as a direct path to finding all releases — new or old — from the network and a plus for those who only care a little about the Discovery Plus library.
On TVs, a new side panel has only three icons: Home, Search and My Stuff. The latter quickly took me to my Continue Watching section and watch list. On the phone app, this panel is located at the bottom and has a download icon if your plan includes them.
The top row on Max is Continue Watching (if you have one), followed by personal recommendations curated by the app and then My List (if you added titles). The home screen will become more personalized over time as the app learns your habits. In fact, all menu sections beyond the home page, such as Series and Movies, will become more personalized the more you use them.
The old hub layout on HBO Max (left) versus the new format on Max.
Max/Screenshot by CNET
Scrolling down the home screen reveals Warner Bros. Discovery’s content brand hubs — all 18 of them — including HBO, TLC, HGTV, DC, Max Originals, Kids & Family or Ghibli. One obvious difference is the row of genre tiles is now located all the way at the bottom of the home screen. It’s inconvenient as you need to scroll past all the other rows, including Max’s curated collections, to get to them. You can use the app’s search to find them, but simply putting them higher up on the home page makes more sense to me.
As far as playback, I only experienced a few problems with Max. For example, while streaming one TV show episode, the video kept playing when I tried to rewind a scene, ignoring my command.
Recommendations need time to get to know you
Because Max is an upgrade — or enhanced update — of HBO Max, the streaming service starts from scratch when it comes to recommendations. Your history from HBO Max will not import to the new version, and with all the merged content from Discovery Plus, there’s more to sift through to watch — or skip. The algorithm needs time to learn who you are, and what you like, and will eventually catch up with your preferences, rotating in fresh additions.
Brand new rows of recommendations in Max.
Max/Screenshot by CNET
The brand hubs will help you with the transition from HBO Max to Max, making it easier for customers to find content and fine-tune the recommendation machine. During testing, I noticed not all hubs are solely dedicated to their brands, so you’re likely to find some cross-hub suggestions. It goes deeper than that with related collections and links to other movies or TV series featuring a particular actor. For instance, you can select a Harry Potter cast member or other Warner-owned franchises and be whisked away to the land of Superman, Middle-Earth, The Matrix, James Bond and additional collections.
Using parental controls
I gave the default kid’s profile a spin to get a feel for the experience. It’s preconfigured with access to PG- and TV-PG-rated movies and shows. Parents can adjust the content ratings, and you’re prompted to do so the first time you click on the profile. You can only change the settings from a web browser, though.
Ratings range from little kids — which starts at TV-Y — up to teens, with the most mature options being TV-14 and PG-13. As long as you keep the profile set to Kids Mode, your child will only see age-appropriate content according to the ratings that you choose. If you toggle the kid-proof exit button, a four-digit PIN is required in order to exit the profile. The home screens look different depending on the age and content ratings, so you may want to create separate profiles if you have older kids and little ones in the family.
When I set my kid’s profile for teens, some of the titles that showed up on the home screen included Talladega Nights, Friends, The Big Bang Theory, 50 First Dates, Teen Titans Go! and the Harry Potter collection. Be aware that there’s a wide variety of content under the teen-rating umbrella if you’re a parent who wants to monitor what your child is watching.
On the ad-based plan, the ad load is virtually the same as before, with 3 to 4 minutes of commercials playing per hour of content. When I watched one 90-minute episode of 90 Day Fiancé, I encountered five commercial breaks of various lengths that lasted a total of 3 minutes, 15 seconds. By contrast, when I streamed Shazam 2 (which runs for 2 hours, 10 minutes), the total ad time was just under 2 minutes, including a 25-second preroll.
While using the kid’s profile, I watched one 24-minute episode of Full House with no ads, and it was the same for a short episode of Teen Titans Go. There were no commercials during films either in this profile. Competitor Disney Plus does include ads while streaming in a kid’s profile, though Max and Netflix avoid it. Still, if you can afford the extra $6 a month, go ad-free.
Downloads are only available on ad-free subscriptions, and speeds are fairly quick. It only took me about 35 seconds to download one episode of Barry on my phone, and a little over 3 minutes for The Batman — a movie that runs three hours. You have the option to select video quality for downloads, choosing from “good” for faster speeds, “better” for higher-quality video that uses more data or “best,” which downloads at a slower rate. It’s one of the areas that the Warner Bros. Discovery team worked to improve.
When I tested the app with the premium Ultimate subscription, I noticed the experience was the same as the $16 ad-free version. There’s a short promo reel featuring Max movies and shows that runs before some content, but not all. It played before Shazam!: Fury of the Gods, but not when I streamed an episode of Titans. So, for $4 more, we get two more simultaneous streams, all the 4K content and 100 downloads versus 30.
Summer Game Fest on Thursday showcased some of the big games coming out soon, and the big reveal of the online event was the first look at Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
A sequel to Final Fantasy VII Remake, Rebirth takes place after the events of that game and continues the story of Cloud, Tifa, Aeris, Barret, Red XIII and Yuffie as they unravel the mystery surrounding the legendary villain, Sephiroth.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will launch in early 2024 for the PS5 and will come on two discs.
Publisher Square Enix also used Thursday’s show to reveal a new Final Fantasy mobile game: Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis. Coming to iPhones and Android phones, Ever Crisis is a chapter-structured RPG taking place during the events of Final Fantasy VII and will include storyline events added from the Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis is available for preregistration on the App Store and Google Play. A closed beta test of the game for Android players will happen July 6-13.
That’s more than double the losses of the year before and marks a fivefold increase since 2019, the FTC says. It added that text scam reports started spiking during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic and haven’t fallen back to their previous levels since.
Cybersecurity researchers say they’ve also noticed a rise in these kinds of scams. Dubbed smishing, a contraction of SMS and phishing, some texts are clearly spammy. They tout obvious bait such as energy-boosting supplements, cash prizes from major retailers or CBD gummies in new flavors. Some are more subtle, masquerading as COVID test results, shipping notifications or alerts for online payments that didn’t go through. Either way, they’re dangerous.
The vast majority of phishing attacks — attempts to grab personal data from unsuspecting consumers — still come by way of email. Cybercriminals, however, are increasingly taking advantage of distracted consumers who are rarely without their smartphones to bilk people out of their logins and passwords, credit card or other financial information, or even access to their corporate networks.
As part of its study of the 2022 reports, the FTC also analyzed a random sample of 1,000 scam text messages and found that many of them attempted to impersonate well-known businesses.
Specifically, the most common type of scam text were those made to look like fraud alerts from well-known banks. The texts create a sense of urgency, telling the recipient they need to verify a large transaction by tapping on an included tiny link. Those who do respond are connected to fake bank workers.
The use of fake-bank texts has jumped twentyfold since 2019, the FTC says.
Other text scams often reported to the FTC include messages claiming to offer a free gift, often from a wireless phone carrier or retailer, messages pretending to be from UPS or FedEx saying there’s a problem with a package delivery, along with bogus job offers and fake Amazon security alerts.
Tips on avoiding SMS scam messages
Be on the lookout for suspicious messages. Don’t click the links inside a suspicious text or otherwise engage the sender. Instead, report the message by forwarding it to 7726 (SPAM). If you think a link might be legitimate, go directly to the company’s website instead of clicking on the included link.
Don’t mess with the scammers. Some people like to mess with the people behind the scams by texting them back and leading them on. This is a very bad idea. If nothing else, it lets the scammer know that you’re a real person. But don’t worry if you open up a scam text on your phone. Unless you click on a link or download an attachment, you’re not in danger of being hacked.
Think before you hand over your number. Retailers and other companies love to collect them, but do they really need yours? Like your email addresses, if your phone number is in a company database that gets hacked, it’ll likely end up sold to cybercriminals for use in these kinds of attacks. Just like the rest of your personal information, the fewer people who have it, the better.
Keep your private info private. Never provide personal or financial information in response to an SMS request.
The Vegas Golden Knights have dominated the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final and only need two more wins to clinch their first championship.
Neither the Panthers nor the Golden Knights have previously won a Stanley Cup. The Florida Panthers last went to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996, when they were swept by the Colorado Avalanche. The Vegas Golden Knights made it to the Cup Final in their inaugural season in 2018, but lost in five games to the Washington Capitals.
Mathew Tkachuk came to the Panthers in a trade with the Calgary Flames last offseason and has dominated in key moments this postseason, but has been quiet so far in the Final. Tkachuk knows that tonight’s Game 3 will be important.
“This is by far the biggest game of our season. We know what has made us successful to this point. We’re definitely not going to shy away from that,” he told ESPN.
In order to make this a series, he and the Panthers will have to push back against Jack Eichel and a Vegas Golden Knights team that’s powered its way through the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars to reach their second Stanley Cup Final in six years.
Whether you live in the US or are looking to follow the NHL action from around the world, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to watch the 2023 Stanley Cup Final live, no matter where you are.
The Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights meet in the Stanley Cup Final.
Jeff Bottari/NHLI/Getty Images
Panthers vs. Golden Knights Game 3: When and where?
The series switches to Sunrise, Florida, for the next two games, as the Panthers host the Golden Knights at FLA Live Arena. The puck drops for Game 3 tonight at 8 p.m. ET or 5 p.m. PT in the US — that’s 1 a.m. BST in the UK, and 10 a.m. AEST in Australia on Friday, June 9.
What’s the schedule for the rest of the NHL Stanley Cup Final?
The schedule for the rest of the NHL Stanley Cup Final series is as follows. All games will air in the US on TNT.
• Thursday, June 8: Golden Knights at Panthers, 8 p.m. ET (Game 3, Golden Knights lead 2-0)
• Saturday, June 10: Golden Knights at Panthers, 8 p.m. ET (Game 4, if necessary)
• Tuesday, June 13: Panthers at Golden Knights, 8 p.m. ET (Game 5, if necessary
• Friday, June 16: Golden Knights at Panthers, 8 p.m. ET (Game 6, if necessary)
• Monday, June 19: Panthers at Golden Knights, 8 p.m. ET (Game 7, if necessary)
How to watch Panthers vs. Golden Knights Game 3 online from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view the game locally, you may need a different way to watch the game — 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. 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.
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 per month, and you can sign up for ExpressVPN and save 49% plus get three months of access for free — the equivalent of $6.67 per month — if you get an annual subscription.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Livestream Panthers vs. Golden Knights Game 3 in the US
This season marks the first time in decades that the Stanley Cup Final will be broadcast entirely on cable television, with the series being shown live on TNT and TruTV, and TBS showing all but Game 5.
How can I stream the games on my phone?
If you have a live TV streaming service (like Sling TV, YouTube TV or one of the ones below), you can use its app. If you have cable or satellite, you can use your provider’s app or watch via the TNT app. Click the person icon to sign in with your TV provider.
Sling TV’s Orange plan includes TNT and TBS in most major markets and costs $40 a month, with $10 off your first month.
TruTV is meanwhile available via Sling’s Blue package, which comes in at a slightly more expensive $45 per month albeit, but is also offered with a $10 off discount for the first month.
DirecTV Stream is expensive. It’s the priciest of the five major live TV streaming services. Its cheapest, $65-a-month Entertainment package includes TBS, TruTV and TNT. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels and RSNs are available in your area.
It is worth noting that DirecTV has an additional $15 “advanced receiver service” fee that automatically applies and is added on to the sticker price, which makes the Entertainment package $80 per month.
Livestream Panthers vs. Golden Knights Game 3 in Canada for free
The great news for Canadian ice hockey fans is that every game of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final series will be shown on free-to-air CBC Sports. Pay TV provider Sportsnet will also be broadcasting every game.
You can stream the entirety of the Panthers vs. Golden Knights series live on CBC’s streaming service CBC Gem. There’s also the option to pay CA$5 per month for ad-free access to the service.
Livestream Panthers vs. Golden Knights Game 3 in the UK
Viewers in the UK can watch every 2023 Stanley Cup Final game live on Viaplay. This third game will be broadcast on Viaplay Sports 1, with the puck drop set for 1 a.m. BST in the early hours of Friday morning.
You’ll need to be a subscriber to Viaplay’s Total package to watch its Stanley Cup Final coverage, which is priced at 15 per month or 144 per year.
Viaplay currently has the UK broadcast rights to the United Rugby Championship, La Liga soccer, plus the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship and Champions Hockey League.
Livestream Panthers vs. Golden Knights Game 3 in Australia
Select games from this year’s Stanley Cup Final can be watched Down Under on ESPN via Foxtel. If you’re not a Fox subscriber, your best option is to sign up for streaming service Kayo Sports.
A Kayo Sports subscription starts at AU$25 a month and lets you stream on one screen, while its Premium tier costs AU$35 a month for simultaneous viewing on up to three devices.
The service gives you access to a wide range of sports including F1, NRL, NFL, F1 and MLB, and there are no lock-in contracts.
Better still, if you’re a new customer, you can take advantage of a one-week Kayo Sports free trial.
Quick tips for streaming the Stanley Cup Final using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming Stanley Cup Final 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.
Louisiana lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday that, if signed, would restrict people under 18 from creating profiles with online services without a parent’s or guardian’s consent. The bill, HB61, now goes to Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards for final approval. If he signs the bill, it would go into effect on Aug. 1, 2024.
The bill states that no “interactive computer service” can enter into an agreement with a minor without a guardian’s consent. However, interactive computer service is a broad term that could include any online service that requires a person to log in to an account, like an online video game profile or email account.
The bill would also let parents retroactively cancel any terms-of-service contracts that a minor already signed with online services. But this only reinforces the Louisiana civil code, which already allows a guardian to rescind a contract made by a minor.
However, some critics say the bill is too broad and could have unintended consequences. Servando Esparza, an executive director of tech industry group TechNet, posted on Twitter that HB61 could jeopardize people’s privacy.
As I told the @NYTimes, Louisiana HB61 could jeopardize privacy and lead to unintended consequences. We appreciate that the bill was amended in the Senate to require the bill’s impact to be examined before it takes effect.https://t.co/vbJmTZjAIk
— TechNet – Texas & Southeast (@TechNetSE) June 8, 2023
The governor’s office didn’t immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment.
“Children are exposed to harmful content on social media, ranging from violent and sexual content, to bullying and harassment,” US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said in a news release. “We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis — one that we must urgently address.”
If HB61 becomes law, Louisiana would join states like Arkansas and Utah, which passed similar bills that require minors to get the consent of a guardian before creating social media accounts.
Watch this: Tips and tools to keep kids safe online
As Apple kicked off WWDC 2023 on Monday, all eyes were on the Vision Pro headset. But buried at the bottom of a press release published by the company the same day was another announcement worth getting excited about (well, I’m excited about it): Third-party virtual private network support is coming to Apple TV.
When Apple releases TVOS 17 (its latest TV operating system) this fall, you’ll be able to download third-party VPN apps to your Apple TV. This will allow you to open up a world of streaming opportunities on your Apple TV device and keep your viewing activities hidden from your internet service provider.
A VPN is a piece of software that encrypts your internet traffic and routes your connection through a secure server in a location of your choosing. In doing so, the VPN changes your visible IP address to the address of the VPN server you’re connecting through, making it appear to the sites you visit as though you’re in a different location. This means that you can access geographically restricted content online from streaming services like Netflix simply by connecting VPN servers in different regions around the world. You can even use your VPN to get around blackout restrictions and stream local sports broadcasts.
You can expect the best VPN providers to start rolling out Apple TV VPN apps alongside the release of TVOS 17 this fall.
The tech giant said in a news release that it’s partnering with more than 150 news publications, about 90% of which are local organizations, for the launch. Organizations based in states like Louisiana, Illinois and California, as well as national publications like the Associated Press and Reuters, have partnered with Google for News Showcase.
Google also said the News Showcase launch is part of a push to help support local news organizations. As part of that effort, the Google News Initiative is partnering with five news associations to give financial grants and training to almost a thousand journalists in the US.
“Our goal is to help [local news organizations] build sustainable businesses, connect with readers and engage audiences,” Chris Jansen, Google’s head of local news and global partnerships, wrote in the release. “We’re dedicated to supporting local newsrooms across the US.”
push for online platforms, like Google and Meta, to share advertising revenue with media organizations. California lawmakers, for example, passed the Journalism Preservation Act on June 1. The act would require platforms like Google and Meta to pay news organizations that share content on those platforms a percentage of advertising revenue.
Watch this: Everything Announced at Google I/O 2023
There’s a huge variety of headphones and earbuds on the market these days, which can make finding the best pair for your needs a bit of a challenge. Especially since there are tons of enticingly affordable models from unknown brands floating around Amazon. But if you want a truly great pair of dependable, high-quality headphones, you can’t go wrong with a pair from Sony.
Sony has long been one of the most respected brands in the audio market, and has claimed several spots on our list of the overall best headphones for 2023. Its headphones are some of the most popular out there at the moment, with a lineup that runs the gamut from premium noise-canceling, over-ear models to inexpensive on-ear headphones to excellent true-wireless earbuds in a variety of price ranges.
Like with all headphones, prices for Sony headphones tend to fluctuate and throughout the year you’ll find discounts on most Sony models — and sometimes pretty major discounts. While we can’t keep track of all the deals on Sony headphones (there are a lot), we’ve put together a list of current deals and pricing for the most popular — and best — of them. We also have lists of the best deals on Beats headphones and best AirPods deals in case you’re interested in those brands’ earbuds and headphones.
Battery Life Rated up to 9 hoursNoise Canceling Yes (ANC)Multipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless EarbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)
Unlike the “open” LinkBuds, the LinkBuds S are traditional noise-isolating earbuds with tips you jam in your ears. They’re more compact and lighter than Sony’s flagship WF-1000M4 and also feature Sony’s V1 processor. While their sound and noise canceling don’t quite measure up to the WF-1000XM4’s, they’re close and cost less. They’re the Sony buds for people who can deal with larger buds but want 80 to 85% of those buds’ features and performance for significantly less.
Battery Life Rated up to 50 hoursNoise Canceling Yes (ANC)Multipoint YesHeadphone Type Over-ear wireless headphonesWater-Resistant No IP rating
As for the WH-XB910N, this is the step-down model from the WH-1000XM4. It’s an Extra Bass model, so it does have a preponderance of bass. This updated version looks the earlier XB900N but offers improved noise canceling and multipoint Bluetooth pairing, so you can pair it with your phone and computer simultaneously. It also supports Sony’s LDAC audio codec. It often sells for around $150 or slightly less. At that price, it’s a decent value.
While improved, the noise canceling isn’t quite up to the level of the WH-1000XM4. And the WH-XB910N doesn’t have some of that model’s extra features, such as Speak to Chat, wearing detection sensors and Sony’s Precise Voice Pickup technology. However, it does have a Quick Attention Mode, which allows you to put your hand over the ear cup to go from noise canceling to an ambient-aware transparency mode. Also, this headphone now comes with a hard case like the WH-1000XM4. Battery life is rated at up to 30 hours at moderate volume levels — that’s the same as what you get from the WH-1000XM4.
Introduced way back in 1991 (!), the Sony MDR-7506 has long been a favorite headphone of recording engineers and other sound professionals (yes, these are wired headphones). The origins of its design date even further back, since the MDR-7506 headphones are, in fact, a refresh of the Sony MDR-V6 that rolled out in 1985. Both models were designed for the pro sound market, but remain hugely popular with consumers.
While the two models have the same design and are very comfortable, they don’t sound identical. Both offer very well-balanced sound and excellent clarity for their modest prices — and both are great overall values. But the MDR-V6 headphones make a little more bass and sound more laid-back and mellow, while the 7506 headphones are leaner with a more accentuated treble range, which makes the sound a little crisper and livelier.
The headphones alone are only available at full price at the moment, but you can save $40 on a bundle that includes a pair of leather earpads and a carrying case.
Battery Life Rated up to 10 hoursNoise Canceling NoMultipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)
While the C500’s design sensibility has more in common with the high-end WF-1000XM4 than their predecessor, the WF-XB700 Extra Bass, the C500 is not a noise-canceling model and is pretty basic as far as earbuds go, with no ear-detection sensors or transparency mode. But the buds are compact, lightweight, fit comfortably and sound good for an entry-level model. Read our Sony C500 first take.
Battery Life 5.5 hoursNoise Canceling NoMultipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)
The LinkBuds are, in a sense, Sony’s answer to Apple’s standard AirPods. While they don’t sound as good as Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM4 noise-isolating earbuds, they offer a discreet, innovative design and a more secure fit than the AirPods, as well as good sound and very good voice-calling performance.
Like the third-gen AirPods, their open design allows you to hear the outside world — that’s what the ring is all about. That makes them a good choice for folks who want to hear what’s going around them for safety reasons or just don’t like having ear tips jammed in their ears. They also have a few distinguishing extra features, including Speak to Chat and Wide Area Tap. Instead of tapping on a bud, you can tap on your face, just in front of your ear, to control playback.
They’re IPX4 splash-proof and thanks to their fins — Sony calls them Arc Supporters — they lock in your ears securely and work well for running and other sporting activities.
If you’re looking for a cheap on-ear wired headphone, the ZX Series is as good a bet as any. It costs just $13 — or $18 for the version with a microphone.
Battery Life NANoise Canceling NoMultipoint NoHeadphone Type Over-ear wired headphonesWater-Resistant No IP rating
The Sony MDR-Z7M2 may not be the flagship audiophile headphone in Sony’s lineup (that would be MDR-Z1R), but it’s still a high-end model that lists for $900 but has been on sale for $600. I reviewed the earlier version of the Z7 (the M2 at the end stands for Mark 2, or second generation) and it sounded great and was comfortable. To be clear, this is an audiophile headphone and sounds best with the right audio equipment, which may include a headphone amplifier or a high-resolution portable music player (notice the Sony Walkman player, which isn’t included, in the photo).
The WH-CH710N is Sony’s entry-level noise-canceling headphones. At their list price of $148, they’re grossly overpriced, but a lot more compelling when they go on sale, which they often do (look for them for less than $100 or ideally at $78, their low price). The set’s sound and noise-canceling features are a big step below what you get with the WH-1000XM4, but these are overall competent headphones that are lightweight and comfortable to wear. In other words, this pair is far from the best but it’s a good choice if you can’t afford something higher-end. No carrying case is included.
All-time low price: $78
Expired Sony headphone deals
Below, we’ve rounded up Sony headphones that aren’t currently on sale, but have been discounted in the past. There’s a chance they’ll go back on sale again in the future, so if you’ve got your eye on one of these models, it may be worth holding off until you can grab one at a better price.
Battery Life Rated up to 32 hoursNoise Canceling Yes (ANC)Multipoint YesHeadphone Type Over-ear wireless headphonesWater-Resistant No IP rating
When you have a product that a lot of people love, change can be risky. Such is the case for Sony’s WH-1000XM5, the fifth generation of the 1000X series headphones, which were first released in 2016 as the MDR-1000X Wireless and have become increasingly popular as they’ve improved with each generation. Over the years, Sony has made some tweaks to the design, but nothing as dramatic as what it’s done with the WH-1000XM5. Other than the higher $400 price tag ($50 more than the WH-1000XM4), most of those changes are good, and Sony’s made some dramatic improvements with voice-calling performance as well as even better noise canceling and more refined sound.
Battery Life Rated up to 30 hoursNoise Canceling YesMultipoint YesHeadphone Type Over-ear wireless headphonesWater-Resistant No IP rating
No earbuds are perfect and not everybody will love the fit of the Sony WF-1000XM4 buds or be able to afford their high price. But if you’re looking for great-sounding earbuds with excellent noise canceling, solid voice-calling capabilities and good battery life, these buds check all the boxes. And unlike the earlier WF-1000XM3, these are water-resistant with an IPX splash-proof rating.
Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds also have top-notch noise canceling and sound quality, but the Sony is right there with the Bose for noise canceling. Some might even say it’s a touch better in that department. The Sony offers better sound quality and has a more compact design, particularly for the case — though the Sony buds certainly aren’t small.
Battery Life Rated up to 30 hoursNoise Canceling YesMultipoint YesHeadphone Type Over-ear wireless headphonesWater-Resistant No IP rating
While they’re no longer Sony’s flagship noise-canceling headphones, the WH-1000XM4 are still very good headphones and worth considering if you can find them at a big discount.
We test headphones based on five key criteria, comparing similarly styled and priced models. These criteria include design, sound quality, features, voice-calling performance and value.
Evaluating design, we assess not only how comfortable the headphones or earbuds fit (ergonomics) but their build quality and how well the controls are implemented. For earbuds, we also look at water- and dust-resistance ratings.
We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing the headphones to top competing products in their price range. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment.
Some great-sounding headphones aren’t loaded with features, but we do take any extra features into account. These include everything from noise-canceling and transparency modes (ambient sound mode) to special sound modes to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears.
When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls in the noisy streets of New York and evaluate how well the headphones reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear your voice.
We determine value after evaluating the strength of the earbuds against all these criteria and what the headphone is able to deliver compared to other models in its price class.
