Category: Technologies

  • Google Now Pays You Back if It’s Wrong About the Cheapest Flights

    Google Now Pays You Back if It’s Wrong About the Cheapest Flights

    Google on Monday announced three new Search features that could make planning your next vacation cheaper and easier. The features are meant to help you save money on your next flight, explore a hotel before you book it and easily plan things to do on your trip.

    CNET Tech Tips logoCNET Tech Tips logo

    Here’s what you can expect to see if you plan your next vacation using Google.

    Flight price guarantee

    Google Flights already shows you whether flight prices are low or high compared to historical averages, but now Google is launching a pilot program for price guarantees in the US.

    How it works is that Google will place a badge next to low-priced flights. Google doesn’t think the price for these flights will get any lower, but if the price does go down, it’ll send you the difference via Google Pay.

    Price guarantee badge and information boxPrice guarantee badge and information box

    The price guarantee badge (top) means if tickets for your flight go down, Google will send you the difference.

    Google

    This pilot program is only available for “Book on Google” flights that depart from the US.

    Explore hotels before booking

    If you use Google Search on mobile to find a hotel, you can view a slideshow to explore different hotels and find the right one for you. You can save hotels you like and pull up more information about the area around particular hotels, too.

    Find prices for and book nearby activities

    Finally, you can find prices for nearby attractions in Google, and you’ll also find a link to book tickets for those activities.

    To view these, you have to use Google Search or Google Maps to find an attraction or tour company. You’ll see prices attached to different attractions and companies, as well as a “Tickets” tab that pulls up different ways to book admission. Searching for some attractions will also show you suggestions for similar experiences you might enjoy.

    For more on Google, check out eight new Google products CNET expects in 2023, how to travel back in time with Google Maps and tips and tricks to help you save money on Google Drive and Gmail.

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  • Twitter Check Marks: What All the Different Colors Mean

    Twitter Check Marks: What All the Different Colors Mean

    Twitter has been a state of flux ever since Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk paid out $44 billion to take over the social media site in October last year. Big changes are still happening, including a new overhaul of Twitter’s longtime verification system that once awarded blue check marks to notable accounts — including celebrities, companies, brands and journalists.

    Musk’s push to build subscription revenue led Twitter to replace its old verification system with a paid Twitter Blue service. The change makes it difficult to know the difference between a previously verified account and one that is simply paying for the blue mark. So who can you trust on Twitter anymore? Understanding the different check mark colors and meanings can help guide you. Let’s sort it out.

    Blue check mark

    A blue check mark next to a user name once conveyed a coveted “verified” status that meant the account was who they said they were. That’s how you would know a tweet was coming from comedian Steve Martin and not someone pretending to be Steve Martin.

    Actor, comedian and musician Steve Martin has a blue check mark to indicate he has a legacy verified Twitter account or that he is perhaps also subscribed to Twitter Blue.

    Screenshot by Amanda Kooser/CNET

    The blue mark now comes with this message: “This account is verified because it’s subscribed to Twitter Blue or is a legacy verified account.”

    Let’s tackle the first part of that. Twitter Blue subscribers pay $8 per month on the web or $11 on iOS and Android to get a check mark along with access to additional features like the ability to edit tweets within a 30-minute window and share longer tweets up to 4,000 characters. The higher in-app price offsets the app store commissions, so you can save money by subscribing directly through the site. Anyone who pays the fee and meets the eligibility requirements (including a confirmed phone number and active status) can have a Twitter Blue check mark.

    Many well-known Twitter users spoke up against the new system, including basketball star LeBron James, who declared last week, “I ain’t paying.”

    But James still has his blue check mark. Turns out Twitter decided not to take the legacy check marks away from most accounts, even if they don’t pay. To add to the turmoil of introducing the new system, Twitter removed the verified check mark from the main New York Times account as Musk referred to the news outlet as “propaganda” and “unreadable.”

    Legacy verified users were once considered “active, notable, and authentic accounts of public interest.” Now it’s not necessarily easy to determine if an account is a legacy or a Twitter Blue subscriber. That confusion may detract from the value of the blue check mark that was once a badge of authenticity.

    Twitter no longer has a media relations team that could help us sort through these issues.

    Gold check mark

    Coca-Cola Company's Twitter header with colorful photos of people with a square black and white script logo and a yellow/gold check mark beside the account name.Coca-Cola Company's Twitter header with colorful photos of people with a square black and white script logo and a yellow/gold check mark beside the account name.

    Coca-Cola features a gold check mark and square avatar on Twitter.

    Screenshot by Amanda Kooser/CNET

    Yes, it looks yellow, but Twitter calls the color “gold.” These marks are reserved for official business accounts that are signed up with the Twitter Verified Organizations program. Think of this as Twitter Blue on steroids for businesses and nonprofits.

    Twitter Verified Organizations pay a $1,000-per-month subscription fee and are rewarded with a check mark, a square avatar, Twitter Blue features and the ability to add affiliate accounts, among other perks.

    Gray check mark

    United Nations Twitter header shows a gun against a blue sky, the blue UN logo and the UN's account name with a gray check mark badge next to it.United Nations Twitter header shows a gun against a blue sky, the blue UN logo and the UN's account name with a gray check mark badge next to it.

    The United Nations and other government and official organizations may sport a gray check mark on Twitter.

    Screenshot by Amanda Kooser/CNET

    It might look drab in comparison to the more colorful blue and gold marks, but the gray check mark is an important one to know. It primarily designates a government organization or official. President Joe Biden’s account, for example, sports a gray check mark. It can also apply to multilateral organizations like the United Nations and the World Health Organization that encompass multiple countries.

    At least gold and gray are easy to understand. Will the blue confusion continue or clear up? For Twitter users, this calls for extra scrutiny of where the information is coming from. Is that tweet from a previously verified account or some random Twitter Blue subscriber? As with most things on the internet, it pays to stay on your toes and check your sources.

  • Best Headphone and Earbuds Deals

    Best Headphone and Earbuds Deals

    There’s a pretty huge market for headphones at the moment, with tons of different styles to choose from. And that means that it’s important to find a pair that’s designed to fit your needs. If you need a pair for working and relaxing at home, you’ll probably want some larger over-ear headphones, while compact in-ear buds are ideal if you want to listen to some tunes while you’re at the gym or on a run.

    And with tons of different headphones on the market, that also means that there are always tons of deals available — but that doesn’t always equal a good value. That’s why we’re only highlighting headphone and earbud deals we think are good buys and truly worth your attention. Some older models are on sale at good prices, but that doesn’t make them good bargains: We tend to focus on newer models that are on sale and also keep our eye on deals from top earbuds and headphones brands like Sony, Apple, Bose, Jabra, Beats, Sennheiser and many more.

    We’ll regularly update this post with new deals as they arrive, so check back often for the best prices on top headphones and earbuds.

    Read more: Best Wireless Earbuds for 2023

    Best wireless headphone and earbuds deals

    David Carnoy/CNET

    The new AirPods Pro (2nd generation) are powered by Apple’s new H2 chip, which delivers more processing power while being more energy efficient, according to Apple. The new chip, combined with new low-distortion drivers, allows for improved sound that offers better clarity and depth. The noise canceling is also improved — Apple says the new AirPods have “double” the noise canceling of the original AirPods Pro. Additionally, the new AirPods add an extra hour of battery life, up from 5 to 6 hours with noise canceling on. Plus, a speaker in the case that emits a sound that helps locate your buds via Find My should they decide to hide from you.

    Water-resistant: Yes (IPX4 rating — splash-proof).

    Read our Apple AirPods Pro 2 review.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, White)

    David Carnoy/CNET

    No earbuds are perfect, of course, and not everybody will love the fit of the Sony WF-1000XM4 buds. But if you’re looking for great-sounding earbuds with active noise cancellation, solid voice-calling capabilities and good battery life, these buds check all the boxes. Right now at Amazon, you can snag a pair for just $20 more than the all-time lowest price we’ve seen on these top-rated Sony earbuds.

    Read our Sony WF-1000XM4 review.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Sony WF-1000XM4 (Black)

    David Carnoy/CNET

    Unlike the “open” LinkBuds, the LinkBuds S are traditional noise-isolating earbuds with tips you jam in your ears. They’re more compact and lighter than Sony’s flagship WF-1000M4 and also feature Sony’s V1 processor. While their sound and noise canceling don’t quite measure up to the WF-1000XM4’s, they’re close and happen to cost less. They’re the Sony buds for people who can deal with larger buds like WF-1000XM4 but want 80% to 85% of those buds’ features and performance for $80 less.

    Read our Sony LinkBuds S review.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Sony LinkBuds S (Black)

    When they were released last August, Jabra touted its $80 Elite 3 earbuds as its most affordable true-wireless buds to date. Now they’re even more affordable, with select colors dipping to as low as $63 right now at Amazon.

    The Elite 3 have a fairly basic feature set, though they offer strong sound and call quality for the money. They have 6mm drivers, four microphones for calls and Jabra’s HearThrough transparency mode. Qualcomm aptX HD audio is supported for aptX-enabled devices.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Jabra Elite 3: $63

    Jabra

    Coming in at 16% smaller than the Elite 75t, the Elite 7 Pro are Jabra’s top-of-the-line earbuds in its new range and include the company’s new MultiSensor Voice technology with a bone-conduction sensor, four microphones and intelligent algorithms to deliver new “ground-breaking call quality,” Jabra says. The voice calling performance doesn’t quite live up to the hype, but Jabra has updated the buds’ firmware, adding multipoint Bluetooth pairing and slightly improving sound quality, noise canceling and headset performance. It took a while but they’re now excellent all-around buds.

    These have adjustable active noise cancellation, Jabra’s HearThrough transparency mode and Bluetooth 5.2. They offer up to 9 hours’ play time at moderate volume levels with noise canceling on, and nearly three additional charges in the charging case — total battery life is rated at 35 hours. The charging case has wireless charging capabilities.

    The earbuds’ IP57 rating means they are dust-resistant and fully waterproof (they can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water). For those who like to use only a single bud, you can also use either one independently in a mono mode.

    Just use the promo code US25 during checkout on the Jabra website to save $50.

    You can shop discounts on several pairs of Samsung’s Galaxy earbuds right now, including the Galaxy Buds 2, which I tend to like the best of the current crop of Galaxy Buds. You can save up to $49 on the olive green and graphite color variants right now at Amazon, though other colors are currently sold out. Read our Galaxy Buds 2 review.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Samsung Galaxy Buds 2: $101

    David Carnoy/CNET

    While the Beats Fit Pro technically aren’t AirPods, they’re built on the same tech platform as the original AirPods Pro (yes, Apple owns Beats). Unlike Beats’ earlier and less expensive Studio Buds, the Beats Fit Pro include Apple’s H1 chip and have most of the first-generation AirPods Pro’s features, including active noise canceling, spatial audio and Adaptive EQ. They’re also splash-proof with an IPX4 water-resistance rating. I’d venture to call them the sports AirPods you’ve always wanted. And for some people, they might just be better than the AirPods Pro. You can save $53 on the coral pink model right now at Amazon, though other colors are still full price.

    Read our Beats Fit Pro review.

    David Carnoy/CNET

    The Beats Studio Buds look a lot like the rumored stemless AirPods that people were talking about but never materialized — as AirPods anyway. Geared toward both iOS and Android users, they’re missing a few key features on the Apple side of things (there’s no H1 or W1 chip), but they’re small, lightweight earbuds that are comfortable to wear and offer good sound. They fit most ears securely, including mine — I run with them without a problem — but others may find a better fit with the Beats Fit Pro and their integrated wing tips.

    Right now, you can pick the moon gray and ocean blue models for more than half off at Amazon.

    Read our Beats Studio Buds review.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Beats Studio Buds: $72

    Amazon

    Not quite as nice as the Z7 Pro headphones but still worth it are the Z2 over-ear headphones. These are made to withstand jerk movement while you workout and have active noise cancellation. They can run for 35 hours without dying and are great for running and the gym. These headphones are made sturdy and can withstand a drop or two. Both styles (black with silver designs and all-black) are $70 (save $50).

    You’re receiving price alerts for Treblab Z2: $70

    Amazon

    The Treblab Z7 Pro headphones offer comfort and noise cancellation along with premium sound quality. With 45 hours of playtime and fast USB-C charging, you can use these headphones all day and night without worry. Touch controls line both sides of the headphones, so you can simply tap on the side to pause a song. Volume controls are also on the headphones themselves.

    You’re receiving price alerts for TREBLAB Z7 PRO – Hybryd Active Noise Canceling Headphones with Mic – 45H Playtime & USB-C Fast Charging, ANC Wireless Over Ear Bluetooth Headphones w/aptX, Stereo Sound, Touch Control (Grey)

    Amazon

    The Beats Solo3 wireless headphones are now down to $130 from their usual price tag of $200. These headphones come with the Apple W1 chip, Class 1 Bluetooth, and 40 hours of listening time. A built-in microphone allows you to make phone calls wirelessly. There are four different colors available on Amazon, with most discounted by around $70 right now.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Beats Solo3 Wireless (Rose Gold, 2019)

    David Carnoy/CNET

    The LinkBuds are, in a sense, Sony’s answer to Apple’s standard AirPods. While they don’t sound as good as Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM4 noise-isolating earbuds, they offer a discreet, innovative design and a more secure fit than the AirPods, as well as good sound and very good voice-calling performance.

    Like the third-gen AirPods, their open design allows you to hear the outside world — that’s what the ring is all about. That makes them a good choice for folks who want to hear what’s going around them for safety reasons or just don’t like having ear tips jammed in their ears. They also have a few distinguishing extra features, including Speak to Chat and Wide Area Tap. Instead of tapping on a bud, you can tap on your face, just in front of your ear, to control playback.

    They’re IPX4 splash-proof and thanks to their fins — Sony calls them Arc Supporters — they lock in your ears securely and work well for running and other sporting activities.

    Read our Sony LinkBuds review.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Sony LinkBuds (Gray)

    The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 have been out a while but are still among the best over-ear noise-canceling headphones, with excellent sound and noise cancellation, and top-notch headset performance for voice calls. Bose’s newer QuietComfort 45 headphones probably have the slight edge in terms of comfort and offer a tad better noise canceling, but the Headphones 700 arguably sound a little better with slightly more refined sound. You can snag both the black and silver variants for $329 right now, though we’ve seen them on sale for as little as $269 in the past.

    Read our Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 review.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 (Black)

    David Carnoy/CNET

    While the C500’s design sensibility has more in common with the high-end WF-1000XM4 than their predecessor, the WF-XB700 Extra Bass, the C500 don’t have noise canceling and are pretty basic as far as earbuds go, with no ear-detection sensors or transparency mode. But the buds are compact, lightweight, fit comfortably and sound good for an entry-level model. They list for around $100, but right now you can grab both the black and white variant for around $30 off. Read our Sony C500 first take.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Sony WF-C500 (Black)

    David Carnoy/CNET

    These over-ear Soundcore headphones earned a spot on our list of the best wireless headphones for 2023 thanks to their premium noise-canceling capabilities and budget-friendly price. They’re a more affordable alternative to high-end pairs like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Bose QC45, and offer many of the same features for less. In addition to adaptive noise-cancellation, they also boast an impressive 50-hour battery life, support for LDAC Hi-Res audio and multipoint Bluetooth pairing. You can snag a pair for $20 off right now when you activate the on-page instant coupon at Amazon.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless (Black)

    Amazon

    If you want the simple, traditional headphones that can plug into your iPhone, then you can save on these headphones that typically retail for $29. I have a pair of these as a backup and as a good option when I don’t want noise cancellation. Something about these headphones just looks good to me, and they fit snugly. Though they aren’t the loudest, making phone calls are easy and clear.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Apple EarPods: $18

    Expired deals

    These deals have expired, but we expect to see these products at similarly discounted prices sometime in the future.

    Jabra

    Released in mid-2020, the Jabra Elite 45h were essentially billed as the best on-ear headphones for the money and among the best headphones for work. While there’s nothing terribly fancy about them, they are a great value for on-ear headphones, with good sound quality, a sturdy design and comfortable fit — for on-ear headphones, anyway.

    They perform well as a headset for making calls too, and include a sidetone feature that allows you to hear your voice so you don’t talk too loudly. Battery life is also good and it has multipoint Bluetooth pairing so you can connect to both your computer and your smartphone at the same time, and easily switch between the two should a call come in on your phone.

    We’ve seen these headphones on sale for as much as $50 off, so it may be worth it to wait and see if the price drops even further.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Jabra Elite 45h

    David Carnoy/CNET

    Samsung-owned JBL has a couple of new sets of earbuds, the Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 that are surprisingly good. Both are equipped with the same 11mm drivers, six microphones, oval tubes and oval silicon tips. And they also combine a comfortable fit along with strong noise canceling, very good sound quality and voice-calling performance, plus a robust feature set, including multipoint Bluetooth pairing, an IPX5 splash-proof rating and wireless charging.

    Aside from the design — The Live Pro 2 has stems while the Live Free 2 is pill-shaped — the biggest difference between the two buds is battery life. The stemless Live Free 2 are rated for up to 7 hours, while the Live Pro 2 are rated for 10 hours.

    The Live Free 2 fit securely in my ears and are smaller and superior to Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro, particularly in terms of comfort level. The buds are available in three color options.

    Read our JBL Live Free 2 first take.

    You’re receiving price alerts for JBL Live Free 2 (Black)

    David Carnoy/CNET

    The QuietComfort 45 have virtually the same design as their predecessors, the QuietComfort QC35 II, which many people considered among the most comfortable over-ear headphones — if not the most comfortable. They have the same drivers, according to Bose, and the buttons are in the same place. However, there are small but notable changes, including USB-C charging instead of micro-USB and an improved microphone configuration that boosts their voice-calling noise-canceling performance (they’re both excellent). The QC45 also include multipoint Bluetooth pairing, so you can connect them with a PC and your phone simultaneously. Read our QuietComfort 45 review.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Bose QuietComfort 45 Wireless (Triple Black)

    David Carnoy/CNET

    The WH-XB910N are Sony’s midlevel noise-canceling headphones and since they’re an Extra Bass model, they do have a preponderance of bass. While the noise canceling isn’t up to the level of the WH-1000XM4 or new WH-1000XM5, it is improved over the previous model and it does have some of the extra features found on those higher-end models, including speak to chat, wearing detection sensors and Sony’s Precise Voice Pickup technology. There’s also multipoint Bluetooth pairing, so you can pair it with your phone and computer simultaneously, and it supports Sony’s LDAC audio codec.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Sony WH-XB910N: $248

    David Carnoy/CNET

    When you have a product that a lot of people love, change can be risky. Such is the case for Sony’s WH-1000XM5, the fifth generation of the 1000X series headphones, which were first released in 2016 as the MDR-1000X Wireless and have become increasingly popular as they’ve improved with each generation. Over the years, Sony has made some tweaks to the design, but nothing as dramatic as what it’s done with the WH-1000XM5. Other than the higher $400 price tag ($50 more than the WH-1000XM4), most of those changes are good, and Sony’s made some dramatic improvements with voice-calling performance as well as even better noise canceling and more refined sound.

    Read our Sony WH-1000XM5 review.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Sony WH-1000XM5: $400

    David Carnoy/CNET

    Sony has released its new WH-1000XM5 but the WH-1000XM4 remains on sale. While I prefer the WH-1000XM5 — it’s a little more comfortable, has improved noise canceling, more refined sound and significantly better voice-calling performance — the WH-1000XM4 is still a great headphone and some people may prefer its slightly more energetic sound and how it folds up into a smaller case than that of the WH-1000M5. It also costs less and we should see some nice discounts on it going forward.

    Read our Sony WH-1000XM4 review.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Sony WH-1000XM4 (Black)

    David Carnoy/CNET

    Over the years, JBL has put out some decent true-wireless earbuds, but nothing that really got me too excited. That’s finally changed with the arrival of the Samsung-owned brand’s new Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 buds. Both sets of buds — the Live Pro 2 have stems while the Live Free 2 have a pill-shaped design — offer a comfortable fit along with strong noise canceling, very good sound quality and voice-calling performance, plus a robust set of features, including multipoint Bluetooth pairing, an IPX5 splash-proof rating and wireless charging.

    The Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 are equipped with the same 11mm drivers, six microphones, oval tubes and oval silicon tips. Aside from the design, the biggest difference between the two buds is battery life; the stemless Live Free 2 is rated for up to 7 hours, while the Live Pro 2 is rated for 10 hours. The Live Pro 2 is available in four color options.

    Read our JBL Live Pro 2 first take.

    Jabra

    This is essentially an upgraded version of the Elite 75t Active and includes Jabra’s new ShakeGrip coating technology that’s “designed to give the ultimate fit while moving around and to stay put when you sweat.”

    This model has adjustable active noise canceling, Jabra’s HearThrough transparency mode and four built-in microphones for “clear call quality,” with two additional microphones for “personalization.”

    While this model is missing the step-up Elite 7 Pro’s MultiSensor Voice technology, Jabra says it delivers the same “premium experience” as the Elite 7 Pro with many of the same specs, including IP57 water- and dust-resistance, and 9 hours of battery life with noise canceling on.

    Don’t expect the Elite 7 Active to deliver quite the same voice-calling performance as the Elite 7 Pro, but it should offer the same sound and fit, albeit just a little grippier in your ear. You can also use either bud independently in a mono mode.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Jabra Elite 7 Active: $180
  • NordVPN’s Meshnet Is Cool, but Don’t Expect It to Replace Your VPN

    NordVPN’s Meshnet Is Cool, but Don’t Expect It to Replace Your VPN

    NordVPN feature Meshnet lets you securely share files and route traffic through other devices from anywhere in the world. The feature, originally released in June 2022, also gives you the ability to create your own personal VPN server through your computer without the need for any special equipment, configuration or advanced networking knowledge. It’s had more attention recently because Nord made it free to all in March of this year. Meshnet was previously only available to the company’s paid VPN subscribers.

    NordVPN pitches Meshnet as a feature you can use for all sorts of applications, including gaming, P2P file sharing, remote collaboration and remote device access. With Meshnet active, you can set up a secure local area network of up to 60 devices (10 of your own and 50 external) remotely from anywhere. You can host a LAN party with your friends, for example, whether you’re all in the same room or in another part of the world.

    Meshnet connections are encrypted via NordVPN’s proprietary WireGuard-based NordLynx protocol, so you can access and share files securely, not unlike you would on a corporate network. The NordLynx protocol also encrypts the VPN tunnel you create if you or your friends want to remotely route your traffic through your home computer and connect to the internet using its IP address.

    All you need to make this work is the NordVPN app on your compatible devices (MacOS, Windows, Linux, Android and iOS). And — as mentioned above — you don’t even need a paid NordVPN subscription anymore, because Meshnet is now free to everyone.

    Meshnet has a ton of potential, and there really is a lot you can do with the tool if you’re able to fully leverage its capabilities. However, the feature is still a little rough around the edges and has a few inherent drawbacks. It’s worthwhile to understand what Meshnet can and can’t do, and what you can practically use it for.

    In order to use Meshnet, you’ll need to sign up for NordVPN and use that service’s app. However, the Meshnet features are available for free — you won’t need to provide any credit card info. Read more:

    What Meshnet does

    For most people, Meshnet is perhaps best used for transferring files from one device to another. It’s also great for routing traffic through another device’s IP address and for secure online collaboration between colleagues and friends.

    Meshnet offers immense practical value as a way to easily share files between devices. Even in 2023, it can sometimes be cumbersome to send a file from one device to another. Sending files via email isn’t secure, and you have to make the effort to compress larger files due to the severe limitations email providers set for file capacity.

    Even cloud storage tools like Google Drive or Dropbox and file transfer tools like WeTransfer impose limitations on sending files unless you pay up. You could go the wired route, but that will require the devices to be next to each other. It’ll also probably involve various adapters in addition to the requisite wires. Meshnet lets you send up to 1,000 files of any type and any size wirelessly and securely from anywhere in the world in a single transfer — for free.

    If you’re someone who routinely transfers lots of photos, videos or other large files between devices, or if you share files with friends, family and colleagues, Meshnet is an excellent solution. NordVPN offers tutorials on how to share files with Meshnet on various platforms, but some of the instructions are incomplete and the file sharing process may take a little bit of figuring out. For example, the iOS file transfer tutorial indicates that you will be able to “find the files shared with you by checking your device’s default download folder location.” It doesn’t mention that you will have to manually select the file’s destination on your iOS device. The file won’t just automatically appear in a default download folder.

    If you have friends that you game with online around the country or around the world, Meshnet is a great tool for setting up your own private gaming server to host remote LAN parties with them. This functionality is particularly beneficial for sandbox games like Minecraft or Roblox. Or if you work on a remote team and need to securely collaborate in real time with your colleagues, Meshnet can be of real value. Applications like this may require some additional technical know-how, but NordVPN’s tutorials are usually good enough to get you started. (Note, of course, you’ll want to vet the tool with your company’s IT department before installing it or using it for any corporate projects.)

    Meshnet is useful, but limited, if you want to route your internet traffic through your home or office computer remotely. To route your traffic through another computer on Meshnet, all you need to do is open the NordVPN application on another device and connect to the host machine directly from the app. However, the functionality is limited because your host machine, wherever it is, must be online, active and connected to Meshnet. It’s a practical solution if you know you’ll need to use the routing functionality in the short term and have your host machine prepped and ready to host the connection.

    But if you’re traveling, especially overseas or for more than a few days, you’ll need to be willing to have the host machine remain on and active the entire time you’re away if you’re hoping to stream content online as if you’re at home. Even then, there’s no guarantee that the machine will stay connected. In cases like this, it’s far more practical to simply use a paid NordVPN account to connect to a server in the region you want to access content from. Also, be aware that the traffic routing functionality on MacOS is only available on the sideloaded version of the app, which is available for download directly from NordVPN — it doesn’t work if you download it from the App Store.

    Don’t confuse Meshnet for a full VPN

    Meshnet is a cool feature, and once you’re experienced you can get creative with how you use it. But even though you can create your own VPN server and connect through it, Meshnet ultimately can’t replace a full-fledged VPN service. Most notably, it’s not a practical solution for geofencing your IP address for international streaming, and secure internet browsing is only possible if your host machine is connected to a VPN server when using the traffic routing feature (otherwise your traffic is exiting from the host machine’s ISP-assigned IP address).

    The feature still has a lot of room to improve. I understand that it’s an innovative new feature for a VPN provider, but I wish it delivered a more seamless experience overall. For instance, devices that are online and connected to Meshnet don’t always show up on other devices as online and available for file sharing or traffic routing. I had to switch Meshnet on and off again a few times to get our devices to communicate with each other properly.

    However, once you get past its little quirks and figure out how to make it work for you, it can be a useful feature. Just keep in mind that you need to have the NordLynx protocol active on any device you connect to Meshnet.

    For security reasons, be careful to only allow people you trust to connect to your Meshnet when sharing files, setting up a LAN or allowing traffic routing through your machine. You’re responsible for the online activity associated with your IP address, so if someone you don’t know is using routing their traffic through your IP address and doing something illegal, you’re on the hook for it. If someone you don’t know sends you a file through Meshnet, that file may contain malware. If someone you don’t know is connected to your local network through Meshnet, they’ll have access to the other devices on the LAN.

    It’s a good idea to also set permissions for Meshnet’s various functions to ensure you’re limiting access to the level you’re comfortable with.

    Also, be aware that you’ll need to provide NordVPN with an email address to create an account and use Meshnet, even though it’s available free of charge. If you’re not comfortable providing your email address, you could theoretically use a burner email to sign up. And don’t be surprised if you’re periodically prompted to sign up for a paid NordVPN subscription, or at least whenever you sign into your account. Though Meshnet is free, NordVPN would naturally want to convert as many free Meshnet users into paying users as possible.

    If you prefer the paid option, note that Nord currently offers a variety of two-year (27-month) plans starting as low as $4 a month ($108 due at signing), and the service’s 30-day money back guarantee makes it risk-free to return to the free Meshnet version, if you’d prefer.

    For more information, check out our NordVPN review and VPN FAQs.

  • New WhatsApp Integration Turns the Chat App Into a Team Task Manager

    WhatsApp has already been building official support for large group chats and communities, and a new integration from task manager Any.do is taking that idea further by building team task management into the chat app.

    The WhatsApp for Teams integration, announced Tuesday by Any.do, adds a chatbot into the desktop version of WhatsApp that allows for quick task creation, task assignment and reminders and for conversations within shared tasks.

    Any.do founder Omer Perchik said that support for the mobile phone version of WhatsApp is in the works, with the desktop version at launch supporting WhatsApp on Windows and Mac and on the web.

    The new feature expands on an already existing Any.do integration focused on personal task lists, and notifications can be adjusted to only alert within WhatsApp or the Any.do software.

    An integration like this within WhatsApp provides a point of familiarity for people who already text on a regular basis with the app. It also expands the use of WhatsApp toward being a potentially essential workplace tool alongside being an app for personal chats.

    The productivity-focused feature from Any.do comes after WhatsApp has been adding official methods to make the chat app easier to use for quick collaboration and sharing. Last year WhatsApp added the ability to message yourself, which can be used alongside the service’s multidevice support to quickly share a link or note between your phone and computer.

  • Save Up to 33% on a Variety of Kindle E-Readers at Amazon

    Save Up to 33% on a Variety of Kindle E-Readers at Amazon

    E-readers have continued to grow in popularity, largely in part to how much more convenient it is to grab one device with all of your favorite books on it instead of lugging around a couple of heavy paperbacks. These devices are compact, ultraportable and offer a wide variety of content for readers of all ages. Right now Amazon has discounted a number of its Kindle devices by up to 33%. If you’ve been considering grabbing an e-reader, now is an excellent time to make the jump to digital.

    The Amazon Kindle (2022) is the best-value e-reader on the market right now and tops our list of best e-readers of 2023. It’s a great entry-level model for anyone wanting to make the switch to digital books. It’s compact and has a 6-inch screen, but still boasts 300-ppi resolution. And right now you can save $20 on the ad-supported version in black and denim colors. That brings the cost down to $80, making it the cheapest option in this sale. And if you want to upgrade to the ad-free version, you can grab it right now for just $100 (save $20).

    But if you’re a fan of reading while soaking in the tub or sunbathing at the pool, you might want to opt for the 2021 edition of Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite. Not only does it come with a larger 6.8-inch display, but it’s also rated IPX8 waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about accidental splashes or your device taking a tumble into the water. The ad-supported version is discounted by $40 right now, meaning you can bring home the 8GB ad-supported model for just $100. (Or double your storage and grab the 16GB ad-free Kindle Paperwhite for $30 more.)

    There are other models available in this sale, including models designed for kids that come with a two-year protection plan and a year of Kindle Kids content included, with prices starting as low as $80. Be sure to shop the entire sale selection to find the right fit for your needs and budget.


    Do you like minimalistic bookshelves but still want to read great books?

    Get a discount on your next Kindle or iPad using our CNET Shopping extension; while checking out, we’ll help you find the best price or coupon codes.


  • Politicians Push for TikTok Ban, Saying It’s a Threat to National Security

    Politicians Push for TikTok Ban, Saying It’s a Threat to National Security

    Some American lawmakers want to ban TikTok over worries that its 150 million US users could be a powerful weapon in the hands of the Chinese government.

    Proposals bouncing around both the US House and Senate would do just that, though the technical details remain fuzzy. And an unprecedented move like this would undoubtedly prompt legal challenges from free-speech advocates, the tech industry and others, especially in the absence of any direct evidence showing Chinese government ties or surveillance.

    The growing calls for such a ban follow the more than four-hour grilling of TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew by a House committee last month. During the meeting, several members angrily charged that the app could be used to both gather intelligence about Americans and spread dangerous disinformation in service of that government’s agenda.

    They also railed against the company’s perceived data collection and sharing habits, as well as the potential effects of explicit and otherwise inappropriate content on the growing minds of kids and teenagers.

    Chew repeatedly insisted during the hearing that his company, which is based in Singapore and Los Angeles, operates independently from both its China-based parent ByteDance and the Chinese government.

    After the hearing’s conclusion, TikTok also released a statement accusing the committee members of “political grandstanding” and failing to acknowledge the company’s efforts to address data protection concerns through efforts like Project Texas, which the company says would keep American user data in the US.

    While some security experts agree it’s possible that TikTok could pose a danger to national security, they argue that a ban isn’t the right way to handle those concerns. Instead, they argue that political leaders should focus on passing federal digital privacy legislation that would regulate how all social media companies collect, protect and share user data.

    “We’re not China,” said Justin Fier, senior vice president for red team operations at the AI security company Darktrace. “There’s no ‘Great Firewall’ here. We don’t monitor every packet that goes back and forth.”

    Fier said that from a practical standpoint he doesn’t understand how such a ban would work in the US, other than by forcing companies like Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores, which in itself would be a “massive” move.

    That said, Fier and other data security experts say politicians are right to be worried about TikTok’s impact on national security.

    “From a targeting perspective, it’s the perfect data set,” he said, noting that Chinese intelligence officials could easily filter the massive amounts of data collected by the app to find specific Americans to target for espionage purposes.

    Anton Dahbura, executive director of the Information Security Institute at Johns Hopkins University, agrees. He says that Chinese efforts to gather data on the American population at large are nothing new, noting that its government has been tied to everything from the massive data breach of the Marriott hotel chain to swarms of surveillance drones discovered in the skies of Washington, DC.

    Meanwhile, he says the stakes continue to increase as the definition of what’s now considered critical infrastructure continues to broaden. While facilities like meat-packing plants and schools may not have been considered to be part of this category a few years ago, they are now, Dahbura says. But their data security resources and practices haven’t kept pace, making them soft targets for nation-state hackers.

    Data collected by TikTok could give those digital intelligence operators the information they need to target them, he said.

    “This is something everyone should take seriously,” he said. Dahbura added that while other social media companies are also collecting that same data, “it’s over the top to have an open pipeline directly to foreign governments for them to use as they please.”

    Despite that, he agrees that a ban would do little good, saying that Americans will find a way around it or move to imitators that will inevitably pop up.

    Dahbura says the mishmash of complaints and issues thrown around by the politicians calling for a ban shows how members of Congress don’t really understand how social media and the technology behind it work.

    There were at least a handful of times during the hearing where representatives asked questions that didn’t make any sense, including whether TikTok accessed home Wi-Fi networks. Apps don’t access networks, but devices like phones and laptops do, then apps connect to the internet through them. Another such question was whether TikTok monitors pupil dilation. Chew said it doesn’t. It just identifies the eyes on a person’s face when they’re using certain kinds of filters.

    At the same time, some of the committee members tried to put the focus on the perceived evils of social media as a whole, for example, pointing to the suicide death of a teenager last year that allegedly happened after the teen watched TikTok videos promoting suicide.

    While those are big problems, they aren’t unique to TikTok, Dahbura said. “That eliminated their credibility for me,” he said of the panel.

    Fier said that given the vast amounts of data social media companies collect and store, the government will have to ultimately decide whether it wants to regulate them as it does financial institutions and other data-heavy industries.

    Given the millions of people and businesses that use TikTok and social media,”it would be a tough culture shift to go backward,” he said.

    Both experts said that one thing Congress could do is finally pass a federal privacy law. Right now, in the US tech companies are governed by a patchwork of state laws. While admittedly this wouldn’t stop Chinese espionage efforts, it could go a long way toward addressing other long-running concerns about social media as a whole.

    “Our politicians have become extremely reactive in regards to technology,” Dahbura said. “But the way technology is moving, we can’t be reactive anymore. We have to be proactive.”

  • Samsung’s Flip Phones May Soon Contend With a New Rival

    Samsung’s Flip Phones May Soon Contend With a New Rival

    After Samsung and Oppo released their flip phones for 2023, Vivo may soon be coming out with one of its own.

    An image of the so-called Vivo X Flip was leaked on Chinese social media by a well-known tipster on Monday. It shows a clamshell-style phone with a large cover screen in a horizontal orientation on the upper section of the device. This is a significantly larger screen than the one on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4, and stands in contrast to Oppo’s Find N2 Flip, which has a large screen in a vertical orientation.

    Smartphone companies are betting foldable phones will be the next big thing in smartphone tech, but these bendy devices have yet to break into the mainstream. The flip phone, however, seems to be paving the way for the segment, as it stages a comeback partly thanks to its compact design and the perception that it’s more disconnected than regular phones.

    This year, Oppo released its first flip phone to international markets, in a move that deepens the phone maker’s commitment to the foldable phone category.

    Earlier reports on the Vivo X Flip say that it has a 6.8-inch inner screen and will run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. There is no word yet on when Vivo’s flip phone will be announced or if it will receive an international release, but the the Chinese phonemaker is reported to unveil its bookstyle foldable phone, the Vivo X Fold 2, as early as April.

    Vivo didn’t respond to a request for comment.

  • Remarkable Type Folio Review: Works Well, but Not in the Dark

    Remarkable Type Folio Review: Works Well, but Not in the Dark

    The ReMarkable 2 is one of the cheapest and most effective E Ink tablets available. Starting at $279, it has a gray-scale screen that’s perfect for distraction-free reading and seamless writing or drawing with its included pen. And now you can expand the tablet’s capabilities to include distraction-free typing with ReMarkable’s Type Folio.

    The $200 Type Folio (AU$299, 179) is thin and sleek and acts as a case, kickstand and keyboard for the device – surprising considering there’s little difference in appearance between it and ReMarkable’s original $129 Book Folio. It weighs about a pound and connects to the ReMarkable 2 magnetically while allowing access to the sides of the device.

    Out of the box, it’s hard to tell if there is a keyboard included in the Type Folio. When you put the tablet in the case, all you see is the cover flap, just like a book cover. The clever design hides the keyboard under the tablet; you’ll need to lift the ReMarkable 2 up and slide it forward in order to expose the keys. The cover flap folds behind the keyboard to give you a clutter-free typing area.

    The Type Folio has two viewing angles: one that sits upright and is great for typing and one that’s nearly flat and designed for combining handwriting with typing. The tablet automatically switches to portrait view as soon as either keyboard setting is engaged.

    A side view of the ReMarkable 2 and Type FolioA side view of the ReMarkable 2 and Type Folio

    The ReMarkable 2 Type Folio is thin.

    Sarah Lord/CNET

    Anyone who has used a compact tablet keyboard will feel right at home here. The small but functional keyboard’s full-sized letter keys are nice, and the 1.3mm of key travel gives just the right amount of satisfying clack. It can be set up with Mac or Windows typing shortcuts, but the layout is a little too cramped to use them quickly, especially for larger hands. Also, the Enter, Delete and function keys are squeezed into the end of the keyboard, making them slightly difficult to navigate.

    The biggest hurdle for most people, though, will likely be the ReMarkable 2 itself. The tablet is generally very responsive to key inputs, but it’s still a different experience compared to a laptop or tablet with an LCD screen. E Ink displays don’t refresh as quickly as LCDs, and the result is a slight mirage effect whenever you move the cursor quickly. It’s most pronounced when attempting to delete text, as you can see the cursor jumping back across the page as you delete. It’s not particularly distracting, but it is certainly noticeable.

    The typing experience on E Ink tablets is also prone to ghosting, where you can see a faint image of E Ink underneath your page. Refreshing the page gets rid of ghosting, but it’s not practical to close out and reopen a document every time it happens. Ghosting is something you’ll encounter on all E Ink devices, even the best Amazon Kindles. That said, it seems more prevalent when typing, as my frequent use of the Delete key would leave a slightly gray box underneath my paragraphs.

    The ReMarkable 2 and Type Folio from the backThe ReMarkable 2 and Type Folio from the back

    The ReMarkable 2 Type Folio leaves a spot to store your pen.

    Sarah Lord/CNET

    While typing on the ReMarkable 2 certainly has its quirks, it’s also fairly pleasant. I don’t have to worry about pop-up notifications, and I’m not tempted by the internet since there’s no web browser. It’s also better for my eyes, as the ReMarkable and other E Ink tablets lack the harmful blue light associated with LCD screens. I loved how seamlessly I could integrate handwriting with my typing, too, but I would have liked typing options on the included notes app to be more robust.

    Also, there’s currently no way to adjust margins, and there are only four type settings: title case, subhead, paragraph and bullet points. You can use keyboard shortcuts to easily toggle among them, but I’d love more complete font and paragraph settings. I prefer to write double-spaced, for example, but that’s not possible right now.

    Additionally, I wish it were slightly easier to position the cursor on the screen. There’s no mouse support, so you have to tap on a location or navigate using the directional arrows on the keyboard. And worst of all, the note app lacks any spelling and grammar checker – a truly horrific omission for someone as error-prone as I am.

    Also read: Best E Ink Tablets for 2023: Devices Made for Reading and Writing

    The biggest downfall of the Type Folio, however, is inextricably linked to the ReMarkable 2’s greatest weakness: the lack of any lighting whatsoever. Most E Ink tablets have some sort of lighting to illuminate the display for use in the dark. The ReMarkable 2 and the Type Folio have no lighting whatsoever. If you want to use them in the dark, you’re turning on a lamp. Considering even the cheapest Kindle e-reader now comes with front lighting, the ReMarkable 2 feels outdated. Especially compared to competitorOnyx Boox Tab Ultra, which has front lighting and an optional keyboard case for $109 that pairs with a superfast refresh mode for zero cursor lag.

    The ReMarkable 2 and Type Folio with the keyboard hiddenThe ReMarkable 2 and Type Folio with the keyboard hidden

    The keyboard hides underneath the tablet when not in use.

    Sarah Lord/CNET

    Ultimately, at $200, the ReMarkable 2 Type Folio keyboard cover is best suited for casual typing. The ReMarkable 2 excels at handwritten notes and PDF management, but that’s about it. Those looking for a way to write long-form pieces on a distraction-free E Ink tablet should opt for the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra, where you’ll get access to a speedy device with the software you’ll need to actually get work done.