Category: Technologies

  • GeForce RTX 4070 GPU Review: It Hits the Bull’s-Eye of the Middle

    GeForce RTX 4070 GPU Review: It Hits the Bull’s-Eye of the Middle

    Nvidia’s latest throwdown in the GPU arena, the GeForce RTX 4070 seems like the most well-rounded meat-and-potatoes gaming card choice you can get — at least for the moment. It’s a first-rate option for upgrading to high-speed, highest quality 1080p through entry 4K gaming, hitting all of 1440p in between. Covering that much ground means you should be safe for a few years until you’re ready to upgrade again. It’s good for 4K video editing, most streaming and entry-level pro and AI-assisted graphics. The size and power requirements make it a good fit for midsize systems. And starting at $600, it’s the least expensive way to hit all those targets.

    Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Founders Edition

    You’re receiving price alerts for Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Founders Edition

    Like

    • Well-rounded performance for the money
    • Only takes two slots

    Don’t Like

    • Needs adapter or PCIe 5 power connectors

    The step-up RTX 4070 Ti outperforms it, sometimes by quite a bit, thanks to its faster GPU clock and more cores across the board, which makes the 4070 Ti a tempting competitor for the same gaming performance classes as the RTX 4070. But it’s at least $200 more (although who knows what the 4070’s price range will settle at once the third-party boards start to ship on April 13), recommends a class higher of power supply and takes up more space. Though the 4070 Ti only needs a half-slot more width, that means it will block an entire second slot on many motherboards, and it might not even fit in some smaller systems.

    Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Founders Edition

    Memory 12GB GDDR6X
    Memory bandwidth (GBps) 504.2
    Memory clock (GHz) 11
    GPU clock (GHz, base/boost) 1.92/2.475
    Memory data rate/Interface 21Gbps/192 bits
    RT cores 46
    CUDA Cores 5888
    Texture mapping units 184
    Streaming multiprocessors 46
    Tensor Cores 184
    Process 4nm
    TGP/min PSU (watts) 200/650
    Max thermal (degrees) 194F/90C
    Bus PCIe 4.0×16
    Size 2 slots
    Launch price $600
    Ship date April 12, 2023

    AMD’s RX 7900 XT and RX 7900 XTX also outperform the RTX 4070, but they’re even more expensive than the RTX 4070 Ti and can’t keep up with the RTX 4070 for ray tracing. They’re also 2.5 slots thick like the 4070 Ti. And though it sounds tempting to opt for a last-generation GeForce model, they aren’t really cheaper unless you drop below an RTX 3070. But at that point you’ve also dropped down to a different performance class.

    A close up of the RTX 4070's power connectorA close up of the RTX 4070's power connector

    The RTX 4070 FE’s power connector.

    Lori Grunin/CNET

    One reason to go for an RTX 40-series class card over an older generation is the jump from DLSS 2 to DLSS 3, Nvidia’s performance optimization technology, that the newer Ada architecture made over Ampere. DLSS 3 delivers significant gains over its predecessor. The downside is that there aren’t a lot of DLSS 3-supporting games out yet — only about 50, which isn’t much out of the universe of thousands of games. But it does bump DLSS 2 performance over the RTX 30-series as well.

    It was a bit odd that Nvidia didn’t release a home-grown Founders Edition of the 4070 Ti, but it returned to tradition with the 4070; the Founders Editions are notable for having guaranteed as-launched prices, though they also tend to sell out fast for that reason.

    There’s little novel about the RTX 4070 FE’s design relative to the rest of the line. The one notable distinction is the power connector, which like the others needs either the bundled adapter or PCIe 5.0 PSU cables/adapters, but only uses a single 12-pin connection (rather than two).

    The RTX 4070 FE facing forward, back side facing you, angled up to your right showing the connectors and rear vent, on a wood surfaceThe RTX 4070 FE facing forward, back side facing you, angled up to your right showing the connectors and rear vent, on a wood surface

    Like its siblings, the RTX 4070 FE has three DisplayPort 1.4 connections and one HDMI 2.1.

    Lori Grunin/CNET

    Companies release the highest priced, highest performing model, wait a little while to see how many people snap it up, then release a slightly cheaper, slightly less powerful model, rinse and repeat. And none do it more consistently than Nvidia. That makes offering informed buying advice harder than necessary: We know that slower, cheaper GPU models are coming, but not how much slower or how much cheaper.

    I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a 4060 Ti in our future that makes an incremental drop that’s worth the performance sacrifice for the price savings, the way the RTX 4070 did subsequent to my review of the RTX 4070 Ti. But for the moment, the GeForce RTX 4070 seems to strike the best balance of performance for the money, and one that should keep you happy for a few years.

    Relative performance of other GPUs

    Shadow of the Tomb Raider gaming test (1440p)

    RTX 4070

    163

    RTX 3080 Ti

    167

    RX 7900 XT

    182

    RTX 4070 Ti

    195

    RTX 4070 (DLSS 2, Quality)

    198

    RX 7900 XTX

    209

    RTX 4080

    220

    RTX 4090

    235

    Note:

    Longer bars indicate better performance (FPS)

    3DMark Time Spy graphics test

    RTX 4070

    18,013

    RX 7900 XTX

    19,760

    RTX 4070 Ti

    22,731

    RX 7900 XT

    24,814

    RTX 4080

    28,275

    RX 7900 XTX

    29,413

    RTX 4090

    35,467

    Note:

    Longer bars indicate better performance

    3DMark Fire Strike Ultra

    RTX 4070

    10,413

    RTX 3080 Ti

    12,635

    RTX 4070 Ti

    13,707

    RX 7900 XT

    16,879

    RTX 4080

    17,619

    RX 7900 XTX

    19,760

    RTX 4090

    24,407

    Note:

    Longer bars indicate better performance

    Guardians of the Galaxy (1440p at maximum quality with ray tracing)

    RX 7900 XT

    83

    RTX 4070

    89

    RX 7900 XTX

    93

    RTX 3080 Ti

    102

    RTX 4070 Ti

    109

    RTX 4080

    136

    Note:

    Longer bars indicate better performance (FPS)

    Procyon Video

    RX 7900 XT

    8,259

    RTX 4070

    8,383

    RTX 4070 Ti

    8,479

    RX 7900 XTX

    8,494

    RTX 3080 Ti

    8,792

    RTX 4080

    9,250

    RTX 4090

    9,678

    Note:

    Longer bars indicate better performance

    SpecViewPerf 2020 SolidWorks (4K)

    RTX 4070

    154.28

    RX 7900 XT

    165.46

    RX 7900 XTX

    184.8

    RTX 4070 Ti

    189.64

    RTX 3080 Ti

    191.52

    RTX 4080

    233.84

    RTX 4090

    304.66

    Note:

    Longer bars indicate better performance (FPS)

    3DMark Speed Way (DX12 Ultimate)

    RTX 4070

    4,479

    RX 7900 XT

    4,534

    RTX 4070 Ti

    5,429

    RX 7900 XTX

    5,891

    RTX 4080

    7,168

    RTX 4090

    9,813

    Note:

    Longer bars indicate better performance

    3DMark DXR (DirectX Ray Tracing)

    RX 7900 XT

    42.06

    RX 7900 XTX

    49.16

    RTX 4070

    51.82

    RTX 3080 Ti

    54.96

    RTX 4070 Ti

    67.95

    RTX 4080

    85.01

    RTX 4090

    136.05

    Note:

    Longer bars indicate better performance (FPS)

    Test PC configuration

    Custom PC Microsoft Windows 11 Pro (22H2); 3.2GHz Intel Core i9-12900K; 32GB DDR5-4800; 2x Corsair MP600 Pro SSD; Corsair HX1200 80 Plus Platinum PSU, MSI MPG Z690 Force Wi-Fi motherboard, Corsair 4000D Airflow midtower case
  • Reading Slump? 6 Tips to Help You Get Through Your ‘To Be Read’ List

    Reading Slump? 6 Tips to Help You Get Through Your ‘To Be Read’ List

    My one New Year’s resolution for 2023 was to read more books. As a new mom with a full-time job, I thought I might as well have been planning a trip to the moon. I’ve always loved reading, but the days of devouring books like I did in school are few and far between. For many of us, the responsibilities of everyday life have taken the place of reading an entire book in a day, as we did as kids.

    A constant list of to-dos doesn’t stop me from adding book after book to my To Be Read list. But as I watch the list grow, I often feel a pang of worry that I won’t get through it. Just like being too busy, a reading slump can take the wind out of your literary sails.

    TikTok trending videoTikTok trending video

    BookTok is a portion of TikTok dedicated to books.

    James Martin/CNET

    But you can get back into reading, and the journey is entirely your own. Whether you need to organize your books, make a reading plan or find better book recommendations, there are online tools to help meet your needs. Here are a few tips to get you turning pages once again.

    Check out BookTok

    If you’re looking to climb out of a reading slump or get more recommendations, the internet is always a great place to start. BookTok, the corner of TikTok that’s about reading and books, will introduce you to other avid readers. Search “BookTok” in TikTok and you’ll be flooded with recommendations and reviews, and roundups by genre or plot trope. You’ll also encounter content creators just sharing the joy of reading.

    If you need somewhere to start, check out creators @bumblebeezus, @mynameismarines and @zai_rambles.

    No desire to join TikTok? No worries. You can also find the same type of content on YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest. I’ve gotten dozens of recommendations from social media sites, and I have more than a dozen tabs open in my mobile browser from sites like Book Riot or Buzzfeed Books.

    Start a reading journal

    I can easily lose an hour scrolling through posts on Tumblr, Pinterest and TikTok about reading journals. The journals serve as a creative space loaded with stickers, doodles and tiny printed book covers, and they also provide a method of tracking and keeping to your reading goals.

    If you want to start from scratch, just find a notebook and a pen. Or you can go the extra creative mile and invest in some stickers, markers, washi tape and colorful pens. Your journal can be as detailed or basic as you want. I have a pretty simple book journal that I found at Barnes and Noble. I use it to track the basics — how many books I’ve read, how long it took me to read a given title, the book’s format, my rating and general thoughts. And, of course, I spice things up with stickers and doodles. I’ve also used a digital reading journal purchased for about $20 on Etsy. You can also snag a BookTok themed journal with premade pages on Amazon.

    Use a book-tracking app

    Goodreads appGoodreads app

    Here’s what a list can look like on Goodreads.

    Shelby Brown/CNET

    If you aren’t keen to keep up with a physical journal, there are plenty of book-tracking apps that can live on your phone, tablet or computer. I’ve been a dedicated Goodreads user for several years. The app lets you organize your books into lists, or shelves — like Want to Read, Currently Reading, Read — but you can also make your own shelf or tag to track whatever you want. You can leave reviews, take a reading challenge, get book recommendations and talk to other readers. Some authors are active on Goodreads, so you might even get a response from your favorite writer.

    Goodreads is by no means the only book-tracking app. Other options include apps like StoryGraph and Bookly.

    Download or make a book-tracking spreadsheet

    If you want something in between a journal and an app, you can download or build your own book-tracker in Excel or Google Sheets. Both programs have dozens of features to track your reading down to the finest detail.

    I’ve created my own basic spreadsheet, which was a lot of work. If you’re not familiar with spreadsheets — or you’re a fan of instant gratification like me — you can purchase a premade spreadsheet and download it to your device.

    I purchased a book-tracking spreadsheet on Etsy for about $2.50, and it’s become one of my favorite tracking methods. The creator, ToadstoolsTerrariums, has space for wish lists, genres, ratings, notes and general thoughts. ToadstoolTerrariums’ pie graph feature — which shows a colorful breakdown of your genres and ratings — is what really sets it apart from others.

    Try a reading challenge

    Reading challenges require no notebooks, apps or spreadsheets (unless you want them to). Like book journals and spreadsheets, however, your reading challenge can be as detailed or simple as you want. Google “reading challenges” and dive into a plethora of creative options. I’ve challenged myself to read 30 books this year, and I’m tracking my progress via the Goodreads app.

    You can also attempt the PopSugar reading challenge, read 100 classics, read only award-winners, authors of color or female authors — or you could simply decide to read one book per month.

    Fable book club appFable book club app

    Want to talk to other readers about your favorite books? The Fable app is a great place to go.

    Shelby Brown/CNET

    Join a book club (IRL or online)

    Tracking books is one thing. But for me, talking about them with other readers is the real joy. For a long time, book clubs conjured images of living rooms and finger-sandwiches in the suburbs (and the older I get, the more attractive that sounds). But a book club can be anything you want: a gathering of all your friends, a quick text, or sending a meme, or just reading a book in tandem with someone else. You can even create and join book clubs through apps like Fable, forums on Reddit and Discord, and websites like Reedsy and Bookclubs.com.

    For more, check out 10 ways to download and read books online for free, how to get library books with an app, and the best free books to read on Kindle and Apple Books.

  • Google Updates Maps to Make Your National Park Visit Easier to Navigate

    Google Updates Maps to Make Your National Park Visit Easier to Navigate

    Summer is just around the corner, and that means many of you are planning a road trip to one of America’s 63 national parks. The National Park Service recorded 312 million visits in 2022, an increase of 5% over the previous year, and while that’s still a bit lower than pre-pandemic levels, figuring out how to make the most of your time in the wild can sometimes be — well — a bear.

    To help make you the most of your outdoor adventure, Google is rolling out updates to Google Maps that will help you get around the park a bit easier and perhaps with more confidence about your enjoyment of the experience, addressing challenges such as identifying a trail that suits your group’s ability or finding public restrooms close to your location.

    The updates, which Google announced Tuesday in a company blog post, focus on four key areas of interest to many park visitors, including those must-do attractions, campgrounds, visitor centers and trailheads. The updates will include more details about the attractions, such as photos, videos and reviews from other visitors to help you decide whether it’s worth adding to your itinerary.

    Another helpful update will make it easier to decide whether a particular trail in the park meets your desires and skill levels. Maps will highlight the entire route of the trail, from where it begins to where it ends, and include photos and reviews from other users, including how difficult it is and whether it’s suited for walking, hiking or biking.

    Getting to the park and to the trails should be a bit easier with more precise directions, including highlighting park entrances on the map. And because cell service can often be sketchy in the wilderness, Google will offer a new way to download park maps for offline use.

    The updates will come to iOS and Android users later this month, with updates for parks around the world planned in the coming months, Google said.

  • NBA Play-In and Playoffs 2023: How to Watch, Stream Tuesday’s Games Without Cable

    NBA Play-In and Playoffs 2023: How to Watch, Stream Tuesday’s Games Without Cable

    The NBA postseason has begun. Sunday’s eventful regular season finale closed out an 82-game marathon. On Tuesday night, TNT has a double-header, with the Hawks and Heat kicking things off in a battle for the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed and a showdown with the Boston Celtics. The second game of the night will have the fighting Timberwolves heading to Los Angeles to take on LeBron James and the Lakers, with the winner of this contest becoming the Western Conference’s seventh seed and heading to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies.

    The Timberwolves will be without center Rudy Gobert, who was suspended after punching a teammate during Sunday’s game against the Pelicans, as well as Jaden McDaniels, who is out for the season after punching a wall during the same contest.

    Needless to say, the NBA playoffs should be exciting. Here’s everything you need to know about watching and streaming the NBA postseason with or without cable.

    LeBron James of the Los Angeles LakersLeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers

    LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers will host the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference’s play-in game on Tuesday night.

    Harry How/Getty Images

    What is the schedule for the play-in games?

    The play-in game schedule is as follows (all times ET):

    Tuesday, April 11:

    • Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT; the winner becomes the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed and plays the Boston Celtics
    • Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. ET on TNT; the winner becomes the Western Conference’s seventh seed and plays the Memphis Grizzlies

    Wednesday, April 12:

    • Chicago Bulls vs. Toronto Raptors, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN; the winner plays the loser of the Hawks/Heat game to become the East’s eighth seed and take on the Milwaukee Bucks
    • Oklahoma City Thunder vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN; the winner plays the loser of the Lakers/Timberwolves game to become the West’s eighth seed and take on the Denver Nuggets

    Friday, April 14:

    • Eastern Conference eighth-seed game, time TBD but it will air on TNT
    • Western Conference eighth-seed game, time TBD but it will air on ESPN

    When do the NBA Playoffs start?

    The NBA playoffs start on Saturday, April 15.

    The NBA Finals will begin on Thursday, June 1. Game seven of the Finals, if necessary, will take place on Sunday, June 18.

    What does the NBA playoff bracket look like?

    What channels will broadcast playoff games?

    The play-in games will air on TNT and ESPN. The NBA playoffs will air on TNT, ESPN, ABC and NBA TV.

    This year TNT will have the Eastern Conference Finals, while ESPN will take the lead on the Western Conference Finals. The NBA Finals will air on ABC.

    Best options for streaming the NBA playoffs

    As all the games will be shown nationally, most of the major streaming TV services offer all the networks you’ll need for watching the NBA playoffs. That said, it can be a bit complicated.

    Sling TV’s Orange plan includes ESPN and TNT. NBA TV is available as part of the Sports Extra add-on, which costs $11 a month. ABC, however, is only available in eight markets (Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Fresno, Houston and Raleigh) and requires the Orange and Blue combo plan if you want ESPN too. That combo plan costs $65 per month in all of those cities except Fresno, Houston and Raleigh, where it costs $60.

    Hulu Plus Live TV costs $70 a month and ESPN, ABC and TNT, but not NBA TV. Click the “View all channels in your area” link at the bottom of its welcome page to see which local networks are available where you live.

    YouTube TV costs $73 a month and offers all the main basketball channels for the NBA playoffs, including NBA TV. Plug in your ZIP code on its welcome page to see which local networks are available in your area.

    FuboTV costs $75 per month for its Pro option and ABC, ESPN and NBA TV but not TNT. Check out which local networks it offers here.

    DirecTV Stream is expensive. It’s the priciest of the five major live TV streaming services. Its cheapest, $65-a-month Entertainment package includes ESPN, ABC, and TNT. You’ll need to move up to the $85-a-month Choice plan to get NBA TV. 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 extra from the sticker price, which makes the Entertainment package $80 per month and the Choice option $100 per month.

    Each live TV streaming service offers a free trial, allows you to cancel anytime and requires a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.

  • Watch Champions League Soccer: Livestream Man City vs. Bayern Munich From Anywhere

    Watch Champions League Soccer: Livestream Man City vs. Bayern Munich From Anywhere

    Coach Pep Guardiola will be aiming to lead his Man City side a step closer to their first UEFA Champions League triumph, as they come up against his former club Bayern Munich in the first leg of their blockbuster quarterfinal tie at the Etihad Stadium.

    Landing the German giants was arguably the most difficult draw possible for City, but the English Premier League side will come into the clash full of confidence. City have won their last eight games in a row across all competitions in a run that has seen them hit the back of the net 31 times, with striker Erling Haaland in seemingly unstoppable form.

    Guardiola will now pit his wits against a familiar opposite number, with this match the first big test for newly appointed Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel.

    A Champions League winner with Chelsea, who beat City in the 2021 final, Tuchel has had a mixed start since taking the helm at Bayern. A key win over Bundesliga title rivals Borussia Dortmund was followed by a shock exit from the DFB Cup to Freiburg. Tuchel knows that blocking supply lines to Haaland will be crucial to any success for his side in this fixture, and will be encouraged by the fact that the Norwegian forward lost all seven encounters against Bayern during his time as a Dortmund player.

    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 manager Pep Guardiola laughing looking leftwards.Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola laughing looking leftwards.

    Pep Guardiola has taken Man City to the quarterfinal stage of the Champions League on six occasions, but the Cityzens are yet to win the tournament under his stewardship.

    James Gill/Danehouse/Getty Images

    Manchester City vs. Bayern Munich: When and where?

    Man City host Bayern Munich at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, April 11. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. BST local time in the UK (3 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. PT in the US, and at 5 a.m. AEST on Wednesday, April 12 in Australia).

    How to watch the Man City vs. Bayern Munich 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. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

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

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

    Sarah Tew/CNET

    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 the Man City vs. Bayern Munich game in the US

    Wednesday’s big match at the Etihad Stadium will be available to stream on Paramount Plus, which has live broadcast rights in the US for every UEFA Champions League and Europa League fixture for the 2022/23 season.

    Sarah Tew/CNET

    Paramount Plus has two main subscription plans in the US: Essential for $5 per month ($50 per year if paid annually) and Premium for $10 per month ($100 per year).Both offer coverage of all Champions League fixtures this season.

    The cheaper Essential option has ads for on-demand streaming and lacks live CBS feeds as well as the ability to download shows to watch offline later. Newcomers to the service can take advantage of a 30-day free trial, while students may qualify for a 25% discount.

    Read our Paramount Plus review.

    Livestream the Man City vs. Bayern Munich game in the UK

    Champions League rights in the UK are with BT Sport, with this game set to be broadcast on the BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate 4K channels. If you already have BT Sport as part of your TV package, you can stream the game via the BT Sport app, but cord-cutters will want to get set up with a BT Sport Monthly Pass account to stream the game.

    If you’re already a BT TV customer you can currently access BT Sport channels for 10 per month. BT Broadband customers can watch the channels via the BT Sport app for 16.

    If you don’t want to be locked down to a lengthy contract, there’s also the option of BT Sport Monthly Pass, which costs 30 per month and lets you stream all four BT Sport channels across iOS and Android devices, plus a wide range of set-top boxes and smart TVs. It’s a rolling one-month contract that you can cancel anytime.

    Livestream the Man City vs. Bayern Munich game in Canada

    If you want to stream this game live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to DAZN Canada. The service has exclusive broadcast rights to every Champions League match this season.

    A DAZN subscription currently costs CA$25 a month or CA$200 a year and will also give you access to Europa League and EFL Championship soccer, Six Nations rugby and WTA tennis.

    As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, there’s a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.

    Livestream the Man City vs. Bayern Munich game in Australia

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

    Stan Sport will set you back AU$10 per month (on top of a AU$10 Stan subscription), but the streaming service is currently offering a seven-day free trial.

    A subscription will also give you access to Europa League and Europa Conference League action, as well as international rugby and Formula E.

    Quick tips for streaming the Champions League using a VPN

    • With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming Champions League 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.
  • How to Sign Up for Sling Freestream

    How to Sign Up for Sling Freestream

    Sling Freestream is the rebranded free tier of Sling TV and it’s super easy to sign up for an account and begin watching free content there. It’s one of the best free streaming services available, offering over 200 ad-supported channels and over 40,000 on-demand titles to stream at no cost.

    While you can watch Freestream content without the need to create an account, logging in to the service offers a more personalizable experience with the ability to mark channels as favorites, create a watchlist, initiate parental controls or continue watching content across all of your devices. You’ll need to follow the below steps to create an account if you want those features.

    How to sign up for Sling Freestream

    1. Head to the Sling Freestream website.

    2. Click on Create a Free Account.

    Sling Freestream create an accountSling Freestream create an account

    You’ll find a prominent button to create your free account.

    Screenshot by Adam Oram/CNET

    3. Enter your email address, your desired password and click Create a Free Account.

    Sling Freestream create an accountSling Freestream create an account

    Enter your email address and create a strong, unique password.

    Screenshot by Adam Oram/CNET

    4. That’s it! Simply click Start Watching Now to begin streaming.

    Sling Freestream create an accountSling Freestream create an account

    Click Start Watching Now to stream live or on-demand content.

    Screenshot by Adam Oram/CNET

    There’s no need to add a credit card unless you decide to upgrade to a paid Sling Orange or Blue account or opt supplement your free viewing with the occasional movie rental.

    Sling

    With hundreds of live channels and a library of TV shows and movies to watch on-demand for free, and no credit card required, you can check out what Sling Freestream has to offer without spending a dime.

    How to use Sling Freestream without an account

    If you live in the US, you can head to the Sling Freestream website and watch live or on-demand content for free without the need to create an account at all. Click Stream Free to access the live channels content catalog without the need to log in.

    As mentioned at the outset, you’ll benefit from some more personalization and parental control tools if you do create an account. The service is free either way and doesn’t require a credit card.

    Those outside of the US can enjoy Sling Freestream by using a VPN. With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change the location of your phone, tablet or laptop to a US server and gain access Sling Freestream from anywhere in the world. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make this easy.

    Sarah Tew/CNET

    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 a month, and you can sign up for ExpressVPN and save 49% plus get three months of access for free — the equivalent of $6.67 a month — if you get an annual subscription.

    Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Fitbit Will Soon Let You Log In With Your Google Account

    Fitbit Will Soon Let You Log In With Your Google Account

    Fitbit users will soon be able to log in with their Google accounts, the companies said in a press release on Tuesday. The new login method will go live this summer.

    When the feature goes live, existing Fitbit account holders will be able to move their accounts over to Google, which owns Fitbit. The company says this will give people greater convenience as they can log in with one password. Google also says this move gives Fitbit owners added privacy controls, including the ability to manage their Fitbit data in the Google Privacy Center.

    Much like when it acquired Fitbit in 2021, Google reiterated its commitment to privacy, saying Fitbit health and wellness data won’t be used for Google Ads.

    Fitbit account holders will need to move their accounts over to Google by 2025.

    Google acquired Fitbit in 2021 for $2.1 billion, saying the deal was about breaking further into the wearables space and not about siphoning data. The search giant reiterated it would protect Fitbit data privacy, which came on the heels of scrutiny from the European Commission. Since then, Google heavily integrated Fitbit’s features into its first wearable released last year, the Pixel Watch. While Google’s encroachment on Fitbit territory may have been seen as an affront, Fitbit CEO James Park, now head of Google’s wearable division, said the brand isn’t going anywhere.

    It seems, however, that the Fitbit-infused Pixel Watch has been selling well. While official sales figures haven’t been released from Google, early reports indicate the Pixel Watch is pushing product, with 880,000 units shipped in the final quarter of 2022.

  • Capture All the Action With Deals on Insta360 Cameras and Accessories

    Capture All the Action With Deals on Insta360 Cameras and Accessories

    Summer is just around the corner, and if you’ve got some adventures planned, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got a camera that can capture all the action. Insta360 makes a variety of rugged and compact models that are designed with a 360-degree field of view, and right now, you can grab one for up to $110 off at the company’s spring sale. These deals are only available through April 19, so be sure to get your order in before then if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

    There are quite a few different cameras and accessories that you can pick up for less at this sale. The Insta360 One X2 is a simple, compact 360-degree camera, and right now you can snag it on sale for $365, saving you $65 compared with the usual price. It captures 360-degree video in stunning 5.7K resolution, has built-in video stabilization and is waterproof up to 10 meters. Or, you can get the best of both worlds with the Insta360 One RS. It comes with interchangeable lenses so you can use it as a standard action camera with 4K video and 48MP photos, or use the 360-degree lens to capture capture mind-blowing third-person video. It also features image stabilization, active HDR and a rugged design that’s waterproof up to five meters. Right now it’s on sale for $440, saving you $110 compared with the usual price.

    A few other camera models are also on sale, and you can complete your kit with discounted accessories like this extended selfie stick, dive case, motorcycle mount and more.


    Get the best price with CNET Shopping.

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  • DuckDuckGo: What You Should Know About The Privacy-Focused Search Engine

    DuckDuckGo: What You Should Know About The Privacy-Focused Search Engine

    Online trackers can be annoying. You search for a product or click on an advertisement one time, and then ads for that product seem to follow you to the ends of the internet, even across devices. Sometimes, you just want a little privacy in your browsing. Enter DuckDuckGo, a search engine that pledges to keep your search activity anonymous and not track you online.

    There are other private browsers, such as Brave and the Mullvad Browser, that block others from monitoring your online activity. But DuckDuckGo — which has spent heavily on an advertising campaign — sees itself as a direct competitor to Google Search, complete with a mobile app and extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari and other browsers, as well as a Mac browser in public beta.

    After major incidents like the Cambridge Analytica scandal, people have become more aware of how much personal information is available to tech companies and advertisers — and are opting out of being tracked when they can. While it doesn’t track users, DuckDuckGo’s app was downloaded more than 50 million times between July 2020 and June 2021 — more than all other years combined since its 2008 launch.

    Here’s what you need to know about DuckDuckGo and how it tries to keep your searches more secure.

    What is DuckDuckGo?

    DuckDuckGo is a search engine that offers a mobile browser app and a desktop extension, both aimed at allowing you to browse the internet without companies gobbling up your personal data. It promises to keep your searches private, anonymous and offers built-in tracker blocking, so the sites you visit have a harder time collecting information about you.

    Read more: Best VPNs of 2023

    How does DuckDuckGo work?

    For starters, DuckDuckGo does not track searches made through its browser extension or mobile app. Other browsers, including Chrome, allow you to use private or incognito windows that don’t track your search history, but their default windows do. (That’s the basis of every “embarrassing search history” joke.) Instead of making you navigate to a different version of its app, DuckDuckGo never tracks your search history.

    Searches made through DuckDuckGo also automatically connect you to the encrypted versions of websites wherever possible, making it harder for anyone else to see what you’re looking at online. This is another scenario where both options (encrypted and unencrypted) exist on other search engines, but the default isn’t always the privacy-friendly option. DuckDuckGo saves you the extra steps of manually navigating to encrypted connections.

    DuckDuckGo was criticized in May 2022 when researchers discovered some Microsoft tracking scripts while using DuckDuckGo’s browsers. The presence of Microsoft trackers seemed to fly in the face of the search engine’s privacy promise, and DuckDuckGo’s founder and CEO clarified on Reddit that the company was “currently contractually restricted by Microsoft” from stopping Microsoft scripts from completely loading. This is because the company uses Microsoft’s Bing to power its search results. The company followed up in August, however, by announcing that it would further restrict Microsoft trackers in its browsers.

    However, DuckDuckGo remains ahead of other popular privacy options when it comes to blocking tracking data, and the company has clarified its app store descriptions to better clarify limitations in its privacy protections. DuckDuckGo had also previously disclosed its partnership with Microsoft, and its CEO said in the Reddit post that the company is working to get that restriction changed.

    DuckDuckGo also actively blocks external trackers from following you around online. For a more detailed explanation of DuckDuckGo’s privacy features, check out DuckDuckGo’s blog.

    DuckDuckGo search pageDuckDuckGo search page

    The DuckDuckGo search engine emphasizes privacy.

    Screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET

    How is DuckDuckGo different from Google Search? What about Incognito mode and private browsing?

    DuckDuckGo essentially takes the opposite approach compared to other big tech companies like Google and Facebook, which have traditionally made money by targeting ads based on your browsing history and personal data. While Google has said it’s going to stop this practice, the platform still collects a ton of data about you, including your location and search activity — yes, even in incognito mode.

    Incognito mode simply deletes information related to your browsing session from your computer: your history, cookies and any info you’ve entered into fields. Notably, it only does that after you end your session by closing out all your tabs. So if you leave your incognito tabs open for hours or days at a time, that information will still build up. And no matter what, Google can save your searches — and companies, internet service providers and governments can still track you across the internet, even when you’re using incognito mode.

    DuckDuckGo is different because it doesn’t store your browsing data at all, and it blocks trackers while you’re browsing.

    A blocked tracking notification on DuckDuckGoA blocked tracking notification on DuckDuckGo

    When you first use the DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser, the app will walk you through the different ways it protects your privacy.

    Screenshot from Adam Benjamin/CNET

    If it isn’t targeting ads, how does DuckDuckGo make money?

    DuckDuckGo still makes money from advertising — it just doesn’t use targeted ads. The search engine shows you ads based on the keywords you search for, which aren’t connected to your personal data like your browsing or purchase history. Essentially, you’ll only see ads for whatever you’re currently searching for, not the weird product your friend sent you a link to last week that you now can’t get away from.

    How can I use DuckDuckGo?

    On mobile devices, simply open your app store and search for “DuckDuckGo.” You’ll be able to download the DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser app and use it the same way you’d use Chrome or Safari. At the bottom center of your app, you’ll see a fire icon, which you can press at any time to close all your tabs and clear all personal data.

    On desktop, go to duckduckgo.com, where you’ll see a button to add DuckDuckGo to your browser. On Chrome, you’ll be directed to the Chrome webstore page to download the extension for free. On Safari, you’ll be instructed on how to set DuckDuckGo as your default search engine or to manually activate a search using DuckDuckGo.

    For more about online privacy, check out the five reasons to ditch Google for DuckDuckGo, what to know about DuckDuckGo’s free AI feature DuckAssist and how DuckDuckGo’s app tracking protection beta is available to Android users.