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.
A couple months back I reviewed Sony’s entry-level CH-720N noise-canceling headphones. They’re quite good, but if you can’t afford them — they list for $150 but are currently discounted to $128 — the company’s new budget on-ear CH-520 headphones are an intriguing option, as they’re selling for as low as $38, or 37% less than their list price of $60. Previously the deal was only the black version but now the blue and white versions are $38, too. This is the CH-520’s lowest price to date.
I initially had low expectations for the CH-520. They look and feel a bit cheap, lack noise canceling and are pretty no-frills. However, it turns out they feature good sound for their price, are lightweight and pretty comfortable for on-ear headphones, and also have excellent battery life (they’re rated for up to 50 hours at moderate volume levels). Additionally, they’re equipped with multipoint Bluetooth pairing, so you can pair them with two devices simultaneously (such as a smartphone and computer) and easily switch audio between those devices. Voice-calling performance is decent, though not up to the level of what you get with the CH-720N.
Note that there’s no wired option — this is a wireless Bluetooth-only headphone. The CH-520 offer overall balanced sound with decent clarity. The bass has some punch to it but doesn’t pack a wallop, and you aren’t going to get quite as wide a soundstage as you get from Sony’s more expensive over-ear headphones. But these definitely sound better than Sony’s previous entry-level on-ear headphones, and they sound better than I thought they would.
I tried the white color but they also come in blue and black (alas, no protective carrying pouch is included). It’s also worth noting that they link with Sony’s Headphones Connect app for iOS and Android, which allows for upgrading the firmware and accessing an equalizer to tweak the sound, as well as activate multipoint Bluetooth pairing.
Enlarge Image
The CH-520 headphones are comfortable for on-ear ‘phones.
Jetsetters, get ready for your next global adventure with this loaded travel bundle from StackSocial. For just $200 you’ll get lifetime access to Rosetta Stone language learning software, Dollar Flight Club airfare deals and much more. The entire bundle costs less than the regular list price for Rosetta Stone alone, making this a great deal for travel enthusiasts. There is no set expiration date for this deal, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later.
Rosetta Stone is one of our favorite language learning apps due to its speech recognition technology and immersive content. Whether you’re looking to become fluent or just want enough conversational skills to get by when you travel, Rosetta Stone can help. It offers reading, writing and speaking practice for 24 languages including Spanish, French, German and Mandarin.
You’ll also get a Premium lifetime subscription to Dollar Flight Club. Once you set up your preferences, you’ll receive low-fare deal alerts in your inbox so you can save some cash on your next trip.
And the bundle includes a lifetime subscription to RealVPN, a virtual private network that uses high-grade AES-256 encryption to help you browse the web more privately when away from home — ideal for travelers regularly on public Wi-Fi. And you’ll get the Complete 2023 Travel Hacker Bundle course from SkillSuccess. It features 79 hours of content around travel hacks, budget travel, travel photography, moving abroad and more.
Your Friday post-work Uber Eats order is going to get a whole lot greener – and we don’t necessarily mean in the healthy food sense. Uber on Thursday announced a slew of product updates, all designed to help the company meet its climate commitments while helping Uber users make more planet-friendly choices.
The convenience and fun of ordering food through a delivery app make Uber Eats and its competitors an attractive proposition for those nights you fancy something different for dinner, or just don’t have the energy to cook. But those deliveries have an environmental cost. The carbon footprint of households that spend 50 (roughly $63) per week on food delivery services is 450% higher on average than those that don’t, according to research from CNET’s sister site USwitch in 2021.
Now Uber is committing to slashing the carbon emissions of those deliveries, so you can keep enjoying your takeout without putting pressure on the climate. The company promises that, by 2040, 100% of couriers will use zero-emissions vehicles and that, by 2030, 100% of restaurants on its app will use sustainable packaging. Bringing in this change will be a major challenge, said Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi at Uber’s sustainability event in London, but one the company hopes other services and restaurants will join in with.
Uber Eats’ new filter.
Uber
“Tackling plastics and waste is a whole new ballgame for us,” he said. “We’re the first global delivery platform to set this kind of goal to go green, but we certainly should not be the last.”
Recognizing that the cost of sustainable packaging can still be prohibitively expensive for restaurants, the company is also partnering with the World Wildlife Fund, among others, to research how it can work with restaurants to make green packaging options more affordable.
To make it easier for you to do your part, Uber will provide a new option in the Uber Eats app that will allow you to filter restaurants by those that offer green packaging options – whether that be recyclable, reusable or compostable.
Greener rides
As a company that relies heavily on car use, Uber acknowledges it’s only right that it set ambitious sustainability goals for itself. With the impacts of human-caused climate change being felt all over the world in the form of wildfires, droughts and extreme weather events, the company is committed to switching its fleet to electric vehicles in order to reduce the amount of carbon its service pumps out.
More than 60,000 Uber drivers were in electric vehicles as of last month, said Khosrowshahi – three times as many as a year ago. The company wants all of its drivers to make the transition to EVs, but this is another huge challenge for Uber, given that many drivers find the cost of electric cars prohibitively expensive.
Some drivers want Uber to pay for EVs.
Katie Collins/CNET
Outside of the London event on Thursday, a small group of Uber drivers, numbering fewer than 10, were protesting the company’s “greed” and its policies, which they claimed center profits over driver income. If Uber wants drivers to buy electric vehicles, it should shoulder the costs itself, said Abdurzak Hadi, who has been driving for Uber since 2014.
“If I have to pay for it, the fares should rise up,” he said. “There’s inflation in the country and everything has gone up, but our fares have gone down.”
On stage, Khosrowshahi addressed the difficulties around switching to electric vehicles. “EVs are still too expensive, charging is still too confusing,” he said. “What we need to accomplish is to make it absolutely effortless.”
Uber says it’s expanding partnerships designed to bring down those costs for drivers, as well as educating them on the total cost efficiency through a hub on the driver app. It’s also providing drivers with a suite of new tools to help ensure charging is as efficient and convenient as possible for them.
On the rider side, Uber is making it easier for you to understand and reduce your environmental impact. Starting this week you’ll be notified when you’re on an eco-friendly route, and from later this year you’ll be able to see in your Uber app any carbon emissions savings you’ve made by using the Uber Green service to travel in an electric vehicle.
The company has just expanded Uber X Share to 18 new cities and has rebranded Car Next Door, an Australian car-sharing platform it owns, as Uber Car Share, with an imminent North America launch planned for Boston and Toronto.
Coming to an airport near you soon.
Uber
In recognition of the fact that around 15% of all Uber rides are trips to and from an airport (making them longer than the average Uber ride, with higher emissions), the company also plans to incentivize you to pick Uber Green over Uber X with a number of perks. These include lower fares and exclusive access to curbside pickup zones and other preferred areas. In some locations, drivers on these routes will also have access to discounted or free fast chargers to juice up their electric vehicles.
Initially, Uber’s airport partners will include Portland (PDX), Phoenix (PHX), London Heathrow (LHR) and Madrid (MAD), although it eventually hopes that green perks will be available at all airports it provides rides to and from.
Uber is also hoping its policies will feed into the electric vehicle revolution more broadly, said Khosrowshahi. The company is responsible for providing many people with their first experience of riding in an EV, he said. “And the first time that you try electric, you become much more likely to try an electric vehicle in your personal life, whether it’s buying an electric vehicle, or electing to use Uber Green whenever you use the service.”
Apple makes some of our favorite wearables on the market right now, claiming multiple spots on our list of the best smartwatches for 2023. And while its most advanced model, the Apple Watch Ultra, has an intimidating $799 starting price, you don’t have to spend that much to get your hands on one of these sleek devices. There’s also the budget-friendly Apple Watch SE, which starts at just $249. And right now, you can snag it for $30 off at Amazon and Best Buy, dropping it back down to the all-time low price of $219.
The second-gen Apple Watch SE is already designed to be an affordable alternative to Apple’s flagship watches, but today’s price makes it an ideal entry point to the WatchOS ecosystem. The device has many of the same features as its pricier siblings, including wrist-based notifications and calls, workout tracking, heart-rate monitoring and sleep tracking. It also works with Apple Pay for convenient contactless payments.
The device lacks some premium features, like an always-on display or the ability to take an ECG, but the Apple Watch SE is still the best value smartwatch from Apple. It would be a solid upgrade for anyone still rocking a Series 3 (or older), with a larger display, much speedier processor and support for the upcoming WatchOS 10 software. You can also check out our full roundup of all the best Apple Watch deals for even more bargains on the SE and other models.
Looking for a solid pair of everyday headphones that won’t break the bank? The Beats Flex sound great, have a long battery life and are one of the more affordable models out there. But right now you can save even more — Amazon has slashed the price by 57%, bringing it down to just $30. That’s the lowest price we’ve seen. We don’t know how long this offer will last, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later.
The Beats Flex come equipped with an Apple W1 chip, which means they will seamlessly integrate with your Apple products. They also have simple on-device controls so you can adjust volume, control content and more with ease — and if you connect the magnetic earbuds around your neck, your music will automatically pause. There’s even an audio sharing feature that will let you wirelessly share audio between your Beats Flex and another pair of Beats headphones.
The Beats Flex let you listen all day, too. A full charge will get you up to 12 hours of playtime and when your battery is low, 10 minutes of fast charging should get you a boost of up to an hour and a half of battery life. If you are an Apple user, you can use the Find My app to locate your headphones if you misplace them. They are compatible with both Apple and Android devices.
These headphones are not true wireless, meaning they connect to each other with a wire. They also lack the noise-canceling technology some other models offer. However, if you’re a budget-conscious shopper looking for good sound quality and a comfortable fit, this deal is hard to beat.
And if you’re not sold on this pair, be sure to check out our roundup of all the best headphone and earbuds deals currently available to see other great options.
