Category: Technologies

Nottingham Forest will look to arrest an alarming slide into the relegation zone, as they host top-four chasing Man United on Sunday in a potentially crucial game for both sides in the English Premier League.

Winless and without a clean sheet in nine games, second from bottom Forest look in free fall, with their hopes of survival jeopardized by a mounting injury list.

Willy Boly, Giulian Biancone, Dean Henderson, Renan Lodi, Omar Richards, Gustavo Scarpa and Chris Wood are all definitely ruled out of this game, while Serge Aurier, Cheikhou Kouyaté, Moussa Niakhaté and Ryan Yates are all considered doubtful.

United, who let a two-goal lead slip against Sevilla on Thursday in the Europa League, are also somewhat battle-scarred, with the blow of losing Marcus Rashford for an extended injury lay-off compounded further by the loss of defenders Lisandro Martínez and Raphaël Varane for this game.

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

Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester United: When and where?

Nottingham Forest host Manchester United at the City Ground on Sunday, April 16. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. BST local time in the UK (11:30 a.m. ET, 8:30 a.m. PT in the US and 1:30 a.m. AEST in Australia on Monday, April 17).

How to watch the Nottingham Forest vs. Man United game 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.

Sarah Tew/CNET

ExpressVPN

Best VPN for streaming

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.

See at ExpressVPN

Livestream the Nottingham Forest vs. Man United game in the US

This game is on USA Network, which you can access as part of your cable package or at the NBC Sports website with a valid login, and can be streamed via Sling TV and other more expensive streaming TV services.

Livestream the Nottingham Forest vs. Man United game in the UK

Premier League rights in the UK are split between Sky Sports, BT Sport and Amazon Prime Video. This game is exclusive to Sky Sports — showing on its Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League and Ultra channels. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the game via its Sky Go app, but cord-cutters will want to get set up with a Now account, and a Now Sports membership, to stream the game.

Livestream the Nottingham Forest vs. Man United game in Canada

If you want to stream this EPL clash live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to FuboTV Canada. The service has exclusive rights to this Premier League season.

Livestream the Nottingham Forest vs. Man United game in Australia

Football fans Down Under can watch this EPL fixture on streaming service Optus Sport, which is showing every single Premier League game live in Australia this season.

Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming EPL matches 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.

There’s no denying that Apple makes some of the best laptops on the market right now, with multiple MacBooks claiming a spot on our list of the best laptops overall for 2023. But they’re also pretty pricey, with even the most affordable models starting at $1,000 or more. Which is why you won’t want to miss out on these one-day offers from Best Buy if you’re looking to get your hands on one. Today only, Best Buy is offering up to $700 off over a dozen different MacBook models and configurations, with prices starting at just $800. These deals are only available until 9:59 p.m. PT (12:59 a.m. ET) tonight, so be sure to get your order in before then if you don;t want to miss out on these savings.

With so many different models and configurations available, you should have no trouble finding a MacBook to suit your needs at this sale. If you’re often on the go, and want a lightweight model that isn’t going to feel too cumbersome, you can pick up a sleek M1 MacBook Air for just $800, saving you $200 compared with the usual price. These M1 models first hit shelves in 2020 and are now a generation old, but are still more than capable of handling most people’s day-to-day needs with an eight-core CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and a vibrant 13.3-inch Retina display.

Or, if powerful hardware is your No. 1 priority, you can grab one of the latest MacBook Pros. They’re equipped with Apple’s cutting-edge M2 processor for lighting-fast performance, as well as a 10-core GPU and a stunning 13.3-inch Liquid Retina display. Prices start at $1,149 for the 256GB model with 8GB of RAM, saving you $150. Or, if you prefer a larger display, you can snag a slightly older 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M1 Pro processor, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for $1,999, saving you $500 compared with the usual price.

There are a few other configurations available, so be sure to shop around, but note that some models may sell out before the sale officially expires tonight. And all models come with some free bonuses, including four months of Apple Music and three months of Apple TV Plus and iCloud Plus (for new subscribers only).

Steam is a popular gaming platform that has about 120 million active monthly users, according to Finances Online. Steam lets you play PC games alone or with friends, and it’s compatible with third-party controllers. Plus, there are always sales on games, so you never run out of something fun to play.

If you know where to look, the service has more to offer than a massive selection of games and bundle deals. Here are a few tips and tricks every Steam user should know to get the most out of the platform.

Share your library with friends

If you have a massive gaming library through Steam, it’s possible to share with friends and family. You can select up to five users who can access and use your library across 10 devices that you’ve authorized.

Open the Steam app and click Steam in the top left corner of the screen. Select Settings (Windows) or Preferences (Mac) and choose Family in the side menu. Click the box that says Authorize Library Sharing on this computer.

You can also revoke access by clicking your username in the upper right corner of the Steam app and choosing Account Details in the drop-down menu. From there, scroll down to Family Settings and click Manage Family Library Sharing. Under Sharing Status, click Revoke on any devices or accounts you no longer wish to have access.

Turn on Steam Guard and two-factor authentication

Steam Guard can serve as a useful tool to provide an additional level of security against unauthorized access. To set it up on the desktop app or browser, click your username in the top right corner. Click Account Details in the drop-down menu and choose Manage Steam Guard under Account Security.

When Steam Guard is enabled, you can have codes sent to your phone or email, as well as deauthorize other computers or devices other than the one you’re currently using that might have saved your login information. Steam recommends sending Guard Codes to your phone to also serve as two-factor authentication.

Set up Family View

Family View can serve as a useful tool for adults who share an account with younger users. The feature lets families customize which parts of Steam are accessible to other users. To get started, log into the Steam account that your child will use, click the Steam menu in the top left corner and choose Settings (Preferences on Mac). Choose the Family tab and click Manage Family View.

• Choose what the protected account can access in Family View like Only Games I Choose or All Games, as well as online content and social features. Once you’re satisfied with your choices, click Next.
• If you selected Only Games I Choose, Steam will generate a list of all your games and you can individually click which games you want PIN-protected.
• Click Next, verify your recovery email address and click Next again.
• Create, enter and re-enter your PIN and click Next. Steam will send a verification code to your recovery email, enter that code when prompted and click Next to finalize the process.

To turn off Family View, return to Manage Family View and click Disable Family View.

How to use Remote Play Together

Steam’s Remote Play feature lets you play local multiplayer games with friends and family. One player owns and runs the game, and up to four players can join in. To find a list of compatible Remote Play games, open the Steam app, click Categories and choose Remote Play under Special Sections.

To start a session, launch your game, make sure your friends are logged in to Steam from their devices and open Steam Overlay in-game. Find your friends list and right-click the names of the people you want to play with, then click Remote Play Together. You can start playing after all your invitees have accepted.

How to make a Library Collection

Steam keeps your games in alphabetical order on the left-hand side of the screen, but if you’ve got a massive library or want even more organization, you can create a Collection. In the Steam app, click Library and choose Collections. Name your collection and choose Create Collection. From there, just drag and drop any games you want to include. The collection will save automatically. Those games will be organized under the name of your collection in the left-hand side menu instead of the larger alphabetical list.

You can also choose Dynamic Collection by following the same steps. Dynamic Collections use filters to create collections that continuously update as you add more games to our library.

Add and play non-Steam games

You can play games that aren’t native to Steam on the platform pretty easily. To add a non-Steam game to your library, open the Steam app and click Add Game in the lower left corner of the screen. From there, click Add a Non-Steam Game.

Steam will open a window that lists all the games found on your device. Check the box next to the game you want to add and click Add Selected Programs. If you don’t see the game you want, click Browse and Steam will expand your search results. Find the program you want and click Open. Make sure the program or game is checked in the Add a Game window and click Add Selected Programs.

You should then be able to see the game or program you added in your alphabetical library list on the left side of the screen. When you click the game, the page will likely have little to no information since it’s not native to steam.

Customize bandwidth

Because Steam uses the internet to download games, getting your gameplay going can take little to no time. But if your internet connection is slow, Steam downloading a game likely won’t leave any download speed for anything else. So, if you want to multitask during a download, you can limit Steam’s download speed.

Click Steam in the top left corner of the app and choose Settings (Preferences on Mac). Click Downloads and then check the box next to Limit Bandwidth To. From there, you can type in your preferred download speed and click OK. You can adjust or remove the limits at any time.

For more information, check out CNET’s review of the Steam Deck and how to install Steam on a Chromebook.

Now playing:Watch this:Steam Deck Mostly Nails Handheld PC Gaming

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With the upcoming rollout of Netflix’s account-sharing fees, HBO Max’s rebrand and a wave of streaming service price hikes, it may feel like a luxury to stream. If you add up the costs of each platform, you may discover you’re spending $100 or more a month. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Let’s say you’re subscribed to multiple streaming platforms, you watch one or two of them until your favorite series ends its season, then look for the next thing. But is it worth keeping all those accounts active if you’re not watching anything on them? I don’t think so.

Have a look at this budget-conscious strategy to help you save on your streaming TV expenses.

Best Live TV Streaming Service for Cord Cutters in 2023

See at Cnet

Rotate all your streaming subscriptions

For cord-cutters, shifting from cable to streaming can be a wise financial move. Because you’re able to sign up for monthly plans, it’s easy to jump into a streaming service and jump out when prices increase or content gets dull. But according to Deloitte’s 2022 Media Trends report, the main reasons people cancel their streaming subscriptions are because of costs and lack of fresh content. Media companies call this behavior “churn.” We’re calling this the rotation method, and you should try it.

The incentive? You save your coin and avoid content droughts. Let’s say a popular show like Ted Lasso or The Masked Singer is set to premiere on a streaming service. Find the total episode count and wait until they’re all available at once on a platform. You cancel Apple TV Plus, Hulu, Disney Plus or other service and then, once all the episodes are available, resubscribe to catch up. Alternatively, you can start streaming a show midseason to cut costs. My monthly guide on which streaming services to cancel can help you keep up.

The downside? You won’t have immediate access to every show you want to watch and will have to wait until the full season airs. And since many streaming services release new episodes weekly, you might not be caught up at the same time as your friends. If you’re someone who prefers to watch episodes immediately when they drop, you may decide it’s worth it to have multiple subscriptions at a time. If you have patience, however, you can save some money.

The strategy can also work if you have a live TV streaming service to watch a particular sport or major event like March Madness. Once the season wraps, cancel the service or move to a cheaper platform with fewer channels, like Sling TV.

Need help figuring out the best way to rotate? Follow the tips below to learn how to churn streaming platforms until your wallet feels content.

Best Streaming Device for 2023: Picks From Roku, Google, Amazon and Apple

See at Cnet

Tip No. 1: Cancel your subscription before getting charged

Set calendar reminders for your billing cycle and upcoming TV show or movie release dates. Give yourself enough warning to begin or end a subscription. Apps such as JustWatch, TV Time and Hobi help you track when and where TV shows and movies appear on a streaming service. And JustWatch added a tracker specifically for sports. If you have a smart home device from Google or Amazon, you can set reminders for specific dates and allow a voice assistant like Alexa to notify you of an upcoming bill or streaming release date.

Tip No. 2: Sign up for streaming service deals

Look for discounts on streaming services. For example, Starz is now $3 per month for three months, a drop from its regular $9-a-month rate. You can also take advantage of the Disney Bundle, which provides access to Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus in a single package for a reduced price. And eligible Hulu subscribers can add on Disney Plus for $2. Lastly, be sure to check with your mobile carrier to see which ones offer free streaming subscriptions.

Best Streaming Service Deals From Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile

See at Cnet

Tip No. 3: Pick one or two default streaming services

Subscribe to one or two must-have services for the year, and select only one or two more options to fit your monthly budget. Rotate the bonus service(s) according to what you want to watch, ensuring you don’t miss your favorite shows while sticking to your monthly spending cap.

Tip No. 4: Use monthly billing only

Avoid annual subscriptions and pay attention to your auto-renewal payment dates. Your billing cycle can help determine when it’s the best time to quit a service, even if you’ve only signed up for a free trial. The only advantage to signing up for an annual plan is when the price is drastically cut down.

Tip No. 5: Don’t cancel your subscription, pause it

Hulu allows you to pause your subscription for up to 12 weeks, and Sling has a similar option with stipulations. Check with your streaming provider to see if you can take a temporary break without canceling.

Give it a shot, and if you don’t like it you can always resubscribe. For more excellent tips on streaming TV, check out this guide to Netflix’s hidden tricks and our tips on the best VPNs.

2023’s Best TV and Streaming Shows You Can’t Miss on Netflix, HBO, Disney Plus and More

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Microsoft has added its BIng AI chatbot to its popular SwiftKey third-party keyboard app for iOS and Android phones, giving users quick access to AI-generated answers and advice.

With the keyboard open, you need only tap the blue Bing icon above the keyboard on the left to open the submenu, and then choose whether to have Bing AI search the internet for a query or give you answers itself via a chat.

The chatbot can also help with conversational tone, offering suggestions for alternative ways to phrase a typed statement if you want your messages to be a little nicer, funnier or more professional. Heck, it’ll even condense what you say into something that’ll fit in a 140-character tweet.

Anyone can use Bing AI to search within the keyboard, but the more advanced AI chatbot and tone retouching require users to sign in to their Microsoft Account first.

Microsoft added AI to its Bing search engine in early February and has been rolling out more AI integrations since, like adding an AI image creator powered by OpenAI’s Dall-E AI to Bing and an AI-powered ‘Copilot’ to its Office apps. It seems like Bing AI is going to play a big role in Microsoft’s products going forward, as the company added it to Windows 11, too.

Ultimately, adding AI capability to its products is Microsoft’s way to differentiate itself from its tech rivals. Google launched its own AI Bard at the end of March and has assured that conversational AI is coming to its search engine, while Amazon launched a new cloud service called Amazon Bedrock that helps AWS customers build generative AI-powered apps.

Read more: ChatGPT vs. Bing vs. Google Bard: Which AI Is the Most Helpful?

The AI wave was kicked off by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which arrived late last year to surprise users with its rich yet conversational responses. Critics slammed ChatGPT for generating plausible-sounding but false information, but its potential shocked the tech industry into responding, with Google reportedly sounding a “code red” after OpenAI’s chatbot was released.

A baptism of fire awaits new Leicester City boss Dean Smith, as his relegation-threatened side travel to the Etihad to take on a Manchester City side in blistering form.

Smith comes in for Brendan Rogers, who was sacked following a run of bad form that has seen the Foxes slip to second bottom in the English Premier League table, with relegation now looking a very real prospect.

The former Aston Villa boss kicks off his reign with arguably the toughest challenge in English football as he looks to secure some much-needed points away against a team that has its sights set on toppling EPL leaders Arsenal.

The hosts are on a superb run of nine straight wins across all competitions, the latest a hugely impressive 3-0 home victory against German giants Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. Man City have won every home game so far in 2023, and scored 25 goals in their last five games.

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

Manchester City vs. Leicester City: When and where?

Man City host Leicester at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, April 15. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. BST local time in the UK (12:30 p.m. ET, 9:30 a.m. PT in the US, and at 3:30 a.m. AEST on Sunday, April 16 in Australia).

How to watch the Man City vs. Leicester City game 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.

Sarah Tew/CNET

ExpressVPN

Best VPN for streaming

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.

See at ExpressVPN

Livestream the Man City vs. Leicester City game in the US

This EPL fixture is streaming on Peacock. You’ll need a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus account to catch the game live.

Livestream the Man City vs. Leicester City game in the UK

Premier League rights in the UK are split between Sky Sports, BT Sport and Amazon Prime Video. This game is exclusive to Sky Sports — showing on its Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League and Ultra channels. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the game via its Sky Go app, but cord-cutters will want to get set up with a Now account, and a Now Sports membership, to stream the game.

Livestream the Man City vs. Leicester City game in Canada

If you want to stream this EPL clash live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to FuboTV Canada. The service has exclusive rights to this Premier League season.

Livestream the Man City vs. Leicester City game in Australia

Football fans Down Under can watch this EPL fixture on streaming service Optus Sport, which is showing every single Premier League game live in Australia this season.

Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming EPL matches 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.

Three years ago, T-Mobile’s merger with Sprint was finalized, and the nation’s list of top carriers shrank from four to three. At the time, T-Mobile made promises that the merger would be positive for consumers and the larger mobile industry — and though that’s been more true than not, there are still some pledges that haven’t been seen through.

But it also hasn’t led to a worse situation for consumers, at least not yet. Though having three major carriers to choose from instead of four is worrisome for the future (with Dish so far failing to pose a real challenge), competition has kept plan prices relatively stable and even led to big savings on top-tier phones. Carriers have continued to build out their respective 5G networks, leading to new 5G home internet options for people who aren’t connected to broadband (or are looking for an alternative to their traditional cable options). It isn’t the rosiest future, but it isn’t as bad as some critics had feared.

In an April 10 blog post, T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert trumpeted how far the carrier has come in three years, citing everything from better 5G service to the greater availability of home internet to lower prices for all, even people signing up with other carriers.

Indeed, folding in Sprint’s midband 5G towers has given T-Mobile a lead on 5G, letting it achieve nationwide coverage of more than 200 million Americans with faster 5G in 2021, years ahead of both Verizon and AT&T. T-Mobile has also improved 5G access for rural customers, Sievert said.

T-Mobile piggybacked off its larger 5G network to launch and grow its 5G home internet service. For a $50 monthly subscription fee (if they set up automatic payments), the service offers customers higher-speed connectivity compared with dial-up, costly satellite, or underdeveloped DSL or cable alternatives. Though the speeds aren’t as fast or reliable as those of a good cable or fiber connection, T-Mobile’s 5G service can reach consumers who aren’t hooked up to the highest-speed internet networks.

And as Sievert notes, competition between carriers has kept prices on par — for instance, Verizon’s comparable 5G Home service also starts at $50 per month.

Keeping phone plans low

As far as phone plan prices go, the carrier landscape after T-Mobile and Sprint’s merger has preserved competition in consumers’ favor, at least for the time being. Indeed, carrier discounts and deals have even led to a boom in premium phones, which climbed to up to 18% of the phone market early this year, according to IDC analyst Nabila Popal (up from 10% before the pandemic). Carriers have been desperate to get consumers signed to three-year contracts, so they’ve subsidized most or all of the price for phones like the iPhone 14 or Samsung Galaxy S23 series.

T-Mobile remains one the last of the big three providers to still offer two-year options on most of its devices, a more consumer-friendly deal. (A notable exception are pricey foldables like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold line, which requires a three-year commitment to get an upgrade discount.) That said, the carrier has tied some of its best perks and promotions — like free Apple TV Plus and its best device trade-in deals — to a requirement to be on its priciest Magenta Max plans.

On the low end of the price spectrum, T-Mobile did fulfill a premerger promise to offer a $15 per month plan with unlimited talk and text as well as 2.5GB of data, which the carrier has since increased to 3.5GB in compliance with its proposal to increase this cheap plan’s data allowance by 500MB per year. It also has said it’ll keep Mint Mobile’s $15 per month plan should its planned $1.35 billion purchase of the Ryan Reynolds’ owned prepaid carrier go through.

Another major element in T-Mobile and Sprint’s merger proposal was offering low-cost or free data plans; discounted laptops and tablets; and mobile hotspot access to 10 million low-income households. What the carrier branded as Project 10 Million has so far followed through on providing $4.8 billion in services and supplying 5.3 million students with devices through the end of 2022, a T-Mobile spokesperson told CNET.

The carrier hadn’t proposed a deadline for hitting the 10 million marker, but it said the program, which launched in 2020, would last five years, meaning it will expire in 2025. T-Mobile hasn’t said what’ll happen after its commitment period ends.

Merger misses: jobs fall short of promises

T-Mobile doesn’t seem to have fulfilled other pledges made for the merger. The biggest involves jobs, with then-CEO John Legere saying the new combined company would create new jobs and hire 11,000 more workers by 2024. The new T-Mobile started with around 80,000 employees in 2020, according to regulatory filings, but after losing around 5,000 employees in 2021 due to layoffs, along with more jobs shed among network and engineering as well as retail employees, the carrier so far seems to have fallen short of its promise.

When reached for comment, T-Mobile pushed back on the idea that the carrier employs fewer people now than it did before the merger. But it didn’t share exact personnel numbers, saying only that thousands of jobs have been created. T-Mobile also didn’t address whether it’ll make the 11,000-person hiring goal set by Legere.

“Before we merged with Sprint, we said we’d have more employees as a combined company than the two standalone companies would have had on their own without the merger — and we have done just that,” said a T-Mobile spokesperson. In the years since the merger, the spokesperson said, the carrier has also “created thousands of jobs for vendors and partners.”

Granted, the jobs-related proposal was made by a different CEO and before a pandemic led to layoffs and challenging economic conditions across many industries. But the current situation is still gloomier than T-Mobile had originally proposed.

The merger also shifted the balance of power among carriers. In their premerger assurances, T-Mobile and Sprint said they’d divest some of their assets to Dish, turning the satellite TV provider into the nation’s de facto fourth-largest carrier and saving the merger. Dish acquired Sprint’s prepaid mobile brand Boost and has the option to pay $3.59 billion for 800MHz wireless spectrum to form its own 5G network, though it may end up passing on the offer to save money after finishing testing the spectrum. In the meantime, Dish has secured agreements with AT&T and T-Mobile to use their 5G networks while it builds its own.

Though Dish finally opened sign-ups for its 5G service back in August, and launched its own $25 prepaid service in December, progress has been slow to get the carrier in line with the far more established T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T. For now, Dish isn’t a serious threat to its bigger siblings.

What comes after the merger timeline expires?

The US Department of Justice required a lot of assurances, like those listed above, to approve the T-Mobile and Sprint merger, but they all have expiration dates. This has implications for who’s helped by the new T-Mobile’s plans — like students aided by Project 10 Million, which lasts through 2025, as well as regular consumers through plan pricing.

As part of the merger, T-Mobile agreed to lock in pricing on its plans for three years, though it’s unclear what will happen after. Last year, the carrier introduced the similarly named Price Lock as a broad feature for most of its prepaid and postpaid mobile as well as broadband internet plans, but only new customers qualify.

There are still a few other merger pledges stretching into the years to come. By the end of 2023, T-Mobile must provide 5G service to 97% of the population, and within six years 99%. The carrier must cover 85% of the rural American population by the end of this year, and 90% within six years. But beyond that, it’s unclear what T-Mobile has in store for consumers.

Trying to find the best tablet for your child can be a challenge. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on something that might get misplaced or broken, but you also don’t want to invest in a cheap tablet that will cause more problems than its worth and end up costing you more in the long run.

The best tablets for kids are often tablets that are specifically designed for kids — though there are some “grown up” tablet options out there that are a solid all-around purchase for anyone. There’s a fairly large market out there for kid-friendly tablets. These tablets are great for playing games, listening to music, watching movies and reading books. Plus they have access to all kinds of kid-friendly apps and educational content, which makes them an excellent choice for both school work and entertainment.

When you’re searching for the best kids’ tablet for your little one, it’s important to consider affordability, battery life, capacity for apps, durability and lifespan before buying. This is especially true if you’re shopping for younger kids. The best tablets for kids have robust parental-control features that let parents monitor their kids’ screen time and the content they can access. (You can go a step further and set parental controls on your Wi-Fi network.)

Many of the kids’ tablets on our list come preloaded with kid-friendly content and educational apps to facilitate learning alongside the fun entertainment apps. These easy-to-use kids’ tablets can also access quality educational content like apps, games, shows and more from trusted and effective edutainment experts, like PBS Kids. Interactive programming (like that offered from Sideshow Kids, PBS Kids and CodaKid, for instance) can be used in tandem with different educational app options on your child’s device, letting them get the hands-on learning experience your little one needs to have the best head start in the world.

There are even toys that work alongside a kid-friendly tablet (and sometimes also a smart keyboard) to teach children how to code. You want to put your child’s screen time to good use, and the best kids’ tablet for the young mind in your life will give you access (through the Google Play store or other app store, several specialized sites or even YouTube) to the building blocks you need.

And, since kids can be clumsy (and sticky for some reason), it’s a good idea to invest in a kid-friendly tablet with sturdy construction and a durable kid-proof case that can protect a delicate glass screen against any scratches or drops. You might also want to add a screen protector.

Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition

The Fire HD 10 Kids Edition is the kids’ tablet version of the Amazon Fire HD 10, with the largest display in the lineup of Amazon tablet options. Just like its 7- and 8-inch screen size siblings, this Fire tablet features a ton of parental control options and a rubberized bumper case to protect the device against drops. This 10.1-inch Amazon Fire tablet also includes a two-year “worry-free” replacement warranty and a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids Plus. Previously called Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, Amazon Kids Plus is a content library that gives kids access to plenty of books, games, app options and age-appropriate kid-friendly content whether you’re purchasing this Fire HD tablet for a younger child or older kid.

Amazon also offers another version of the child-friendly tablet, called the Fire HD 10 Pro Kids Edition, which has a slimmer case alongside more web browsing and app options for older children. It might be one of the best kid tablet options in this lineup to grow on, and it might be a good one if your kids’ ages vary widely, but your budget only allows for one shared kids’ tablet in your home.

$200 at Amazon

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Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition

The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition is cheaper and 2 inches smaller than the 10-inch version of the kids’ tablet, but it includes the same bundle of parental controls, rubberized bumper case to protect the device, two-year “worry-free” replacement warranty and one-year subscription to Amazon Kids Plus. You can add a microSD card for additional storage. Compared with the Kids Edition of the Fire 7 tablet, the HD 8 Kids tablet costs more, but it’s got a higher-resolution screen, faster performance and more storage, making it a worthwhile upgrade.

Like the 10-inch version, the Fire HD 8 Kids Edition also has a slimmer Pro version for older kids.

Read our Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition review.

$150 at Amazon

Amazon

Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition

The Amazon Fire 7 is the most budget-friendly “learning tablet” option out of the lineup of Amazon Fire Kids Edition tablets. This Kids Edition tablet does a decent job at most tasks and apps and includes the same bundle of parental controls, padded tablet case, two-year warranty and one-year subscription to Amazon Kids Plus. This is also the best kids’ tablet out of the lineup, size wise, for use as an e-reader. The kid-friendly dimensions make it comfortable for smaller hands. We might be tempted to think bigger is always better, but sometimes, the best tablet for a given purpose (like reading) comes down to the hands that hold it.

Like both the 10- and 8-inch options, the Fire 7 also has a kid-friendly Pro tablet for older children that features a slimmer case, more web browsing and app options.

Read our Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition review.

$110 at Amazon

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Apple iPad (9th gen, 2021)

When it comes to a children’s tablet, Apple’s iPad definitely has the more recognizable name, and in-app purchases are easy on an iPad. However, handing over an iPad with endless app options to young kids — or even an older child — can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially considering that high iPad price. But compared with Amazon’s Kids Edition tablets, an iPad has more versatility in adapting to a growing kid’s changing needs in a tablet, making it one of the best tablet options for something your little one can grow with. The 2021 version remains the most useful iPad for the greatest number of people and can sometimes be found for as little as $250 if you wait for the right sale.

Read our Apple iPad (2021) review.

$330 at Best Buy

$330 at Target

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The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is a gaming phone that doesn’t change very much about its look, but makes considerable leaps ahead when it comes to its internals and software. The phone, revealed Thursday with a starting price of $1,000, keeps many of the design aesthetics and personality of last year’s Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro. These include its LED indicator on the back, a 6,000-mAh battery that can easily last two days and a highly responsive touchscreen with a 720Hz touch sampling rate. But it’s inside where the most substantial changes are including an upgraded Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and new software features for customizing game play.

There’s even a hidden door on the back of the phone, dubbed the AeroActive portal, that opens when you attach the included AeroActive Cooler 7 fan. This door helps blow cool air directly into the phone to keep it from overheating during longer gaming sessions.

These gaming-specific features arrive alongside improvements to how the new ROG functions as a phone, too. Asus is committing to two years of software updates and four years of security updates. That’s on the low side compared to the four years of software updates Samsung provides for its Galaxy S series, but it’s still good to see Asus now commit to such a support timeline. The Phone 7 Ultimate also has a Background mode to set an automatic task up in any game and have that run while you use the phone for anything else.

7.5

Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate

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Like

• Striking design
• Lots of custom options
• AeroActive Portal opening for cooling

Don’t Like

• Tall and heavy
• Photos lack detail
• No wireless charging

Yet even with these improvements, the Phone 7 Ultimate still prioritizes gaming over other functions and features that typically get the spotlight in this price range. Specifically, the Asus phone is tall, partly because the front-facing camera is placed in a bezel above the 6.7-inch AMOLED screen instead of within a display cutout like on many other Android phones. This could benefit gamers since you don’t have anything obstructing the gameplay on your screen. But if you’re used to a large-screen phone like the Galaxy S23 Plus or the iPhone 14 Pro Max, you might wince at the ROG being even bigger than its display. The phone also feels heavy, coming in at 239 grams (just a gram shy of the iPhone 14 Pro Max) compared with the similarly sized 196-gram Galaxy S23 Plus.

The phone lacks wireless charging, but makes up for that with speedy wired 65-watt charging. And yes, the power brick is even included in the box.

Photography is fine. It’s not in the same league as what the cameras and software shoot on similarly priced Galaxy or Pixel phones. Photos from the Phone 7 Ultimate have a reasonable amount of detail in both indoor and outdoor settings.

The Phone 7 Ultimate also arrives as the handheld PC gaming market is gaining traction, with Asus itself even announcing the ROG Ally as a competitor to Valve’s Steam Deck. While the Phone 7 Ultimate — currently set to arrive in the US by June — isn’t claiming to be the mobile gaming device for your PC game library, it does include lots of features and customizations for those seeking to get the most out of games built for Android.

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7:10

Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate specs, software and gaming performance

The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate has specs that might outperform your PC, even though it’s not trying to be one. The review unit I tested includes 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage space, which is a small step down from the 18GB of RAM seen on last year’s Phone 6 Pro, but still a ludicrous amount.

Alongside the aforementioned Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, the phone has a Qualcomm Adreno 740 GPU. The Phone 7 Ultimate’s display has a 165Hz refresh rate. It runs Android 13, has two front-facing stereo speakers and a headphone jack. Like with last year’s Phone 6 Pro, the phone’s rear LED display shows customizable animations and notification icons. There’s two USB-C ports, one on the bottom and another on the left side, meant to make it easier to charge while playing a game horizontally. Passthrough charging is also available, which lets you play games without charging the battery so the phone doesn’t get warmer.

The Phone 7 Ultimate is especially speedy, and when I open games I can easily crank up the graphics and frame rate settings to their highest. Setting Fortnite to run at 90 frames per second didn’t bog down the phone, nor did playing Mortal Kombat at 160 frames per second. Even games that don’t support a high frame rate still benefit from the Snapdragon chip and the phone’s memory. For instance, Marvel Snap’s card animations looked very smooth, as did Mario Kart.

In benchmark tests, the Phone 7 Ultimate performed comparable to phones like the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the OnePlus 11. While raw power isn’t necessarily what separates gaming phones from mainstream ones, it does underscore that Asus’ software additions and hardware customizations are focused on its gamer audience.

The Phone 7 Ultimate emphasizes horizontal game play. It has an updated version of its AirTriggers system to program the phone’s various sensors on a game by game basis. Like RedMagic gaming phones, you can use the corners of the phone to respond as shoulder buttons. For instance, when playing Fortnite, I set up the right shoulder button to shoot and the left shoulder button to swap between aiming modes.

Asus also lets you program the phone’s gyroscope for various motion controls and gestures. Overall, there’s a lot of options for those that link to tinker, but I would like to see Asus include suggested controller templates for popular mobile games in future updates.

There’s also program macros — a series of commands that repeat over and over — which, when combined with Background mode, lets you set and forget certain game tasks. In order to protect your phone’s battery, a persistent notification will display when a game is in Background mode so you eventually remember to turn it off.

Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate cooling system

The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate makes cooling a priority, whether or not you are using the included AeroActive Cooler attachment. Asus designed the inside of the phone to help with heat dissipation, and while I could certainly feel the phone become warm while playing games or fast charging, it was never uncomfortable to hold. Though adding a case goes a long way to keep heat away from your hands. According to the phone’s temperature gauge, after 30 minutes of gameplay it reached 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

The AeroActive Cooler plugs into the side USB-C port and clamps down over the power button. The attachment has cooling fans and opens the hidden door on the back to push cool air inside. There’s also programmable buttons and LED lights on it. During another 30-minute stretch of gameplay with the fan attached, the phone’s temperature dropped to 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit). Cooling aside, the AeroActive Cooler feels like there’s a big metal spider on the back of the phone. It’s uncomfortable, especially when I played touchscreen-heavy games.

The accessory also has a kickstand for propping it up on a table and using a Bluetooth game controller, which could be more comfortable.

Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate cameras, photography

The Phone 7 Ultimate has a 50-megapixel main camera, a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera and an 8-megapixel macro camera. The front-facing camera has a 32-megapixel sensor. There’s Portrait mode and Night mode. You can record videos at 8K 24fps (frames per second) and in 4K at either 60fps or 30fps.

Photos are adequate. The Phone 7 Ultimate performed just fine in a variety of settings like at Citi Field or in Central Park for a wedding. This isn’t going to be a phone that you use for taking the best Instagram photos, but it works as a way to grab a quick picture in most environments.

On the whole, Phone 7 Ultimate photos lacked detail, especially compared to images from my iPhone 12 Pro Max. Take a look at the photos below of me standing in Central Park. You can see the flowers’ details substantially clearer in the iPhone photo. I’m shocked at how different the lighting looks in the two photos.

The Asus’ Portrait mode fared slightly better, despite the background blur on the flowers looking inconsistent. Selfies similarly lacked detail, but the front-facing camera is serviceable for video calls. Photo and video capture is a common compromise for most gaming phones.

Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate bottom line

The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is tailored for mobile phone gamers that want to tweak Android games while playing them at their highest graphics settings. New additions like the phone’s new Snapdragon chip, controller options and upgraded cooling system further refine that experience, while providing a sharp refresh rate with fast speeds that benefit nongaming tasks like apps and reading.

Enlarge Image

Most people will likely be happier with a phone like a Galaxy S23 that has better cameras and a slimmer body. Also, many Android games run just fine on regular phones.

For a gamer that puts specs above all and wants lots and lots of customizable options, this ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is packed with them. We haven’t yet reviewed the competing RedMagic 8 Pro series which has the same chip with a lower $649 starting price. However, the software experience on the Asus is very good, achieving a nice balance between being a gaming device and a mobile phone.

How we test phones

Every phone tested by CNET’s reviews team was actually used in the real world. We test a phone’s features, play games and take photos. We examine the display to see if it’s bright, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and build to see how it is to hold and whether it has an IP-rating for water resistance. We push the processor’s performance to the extremes using both standardized benchmark tools like GeekBench and 3DMark, along with our own anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution videos and playing graphically intense games at high refresh rates.

All the cameras are tested in a variety of conditions from bright sunlight to dark indoor scenes. We try out special features like night mode and portrait mode and compare our findings against similarly priced competing phones. We also check out the battery life by using it daily as well as running a series of battery drain tests.

We take into account additional features like support for 5G, satellite connectivity, fingerprint and face sensors, stylus support, fast charging speeds, foldable displays among others that can be useful. And we balance all of this against the price to give you the verdict on whether that phone, whatever price it is, actually represents good value.

Amazon will begin charging a $1 fee for some returns made through UPS, the online retail giant confirmed Friday.

You can continue making Amazon returns for free at Whole Foods, Kohl’s and Amazon Fresh stores, however.

“We offer convenient, easy returns to Amazon customers, with one or more options for label-free, box-free returns at no cost,” Eileen Hards, Amazon spokesperson, said in a statement emailed to CNET.

If you instead choose to return your item at a UPS Store “when there is a free option closer” to your delivery address, that’s when you could be hit with the fee, Amazon says.

Here’s more from CNET on how to get free returns on Amazon and how to return Amazon purchases at Kohl’s.

Read more: Amazon’s New Webpage Shows Prime Perks, Updates

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