Category: Technologies

Loverwatch is a web-based dating sim — the biggest and best surprise Overwatch 2 has delivered. In the game, you’re guided by Hanzo in Cupid form as he helps you navigate your way to Genji’s or Mercy’s heart — whether that means friendship or romance is up to you. The journey will take you to Overwatch locales like a Midtown comedy club and a five-star restaurant in Circuit Royale as you spend time with your date and get to know them better. It’s a hilarious ride filled with self-aware jokes and a surprising amount of heart.

You can play Loverwatch by going to loverwatch.gg. It plays directly in your web browser — no downloads required. Simply follow the prompts on screen, follow Cupid’s advice, and interact with your dates. If you sign in to your Battle.net account, you’ll be able to earn in-game rewards for successfully winning the admiration of the Overwatch heroes.

As I mentioned in CNET’s season 3 guide, the Overwatch roster is overflowing with eligible dates. Of those 30-plus heroes, though, Genji and Mercy are two of the most popular, with plenty of backstory to draw from. That makes them good choices for Loverwatch, which is hopefully just the first iteration of a larger Overwatch dating sim. The game itself hints at the hopes of doing more.

Loverwatch, as weird and unexpected as the project might seem, is one of the best things Overwatch has produced. CNET got to talk to the game’s writers and brand manager in media interviews the day after its launch. Here’s what we learned about the game’s origins and the possibility of fans getting more in the future.

Is Loverwatch canon?

No. The writers pulled from the characters’ personalities based on longstanding lore and in-game interactions, but the events of the dating sim aren’t canon. The game states that upfront before players begin courting the hero of their choice.

How to get the secret ending

For the rewards hunters: Genji and Mercy are the two options at the start of the game, but theirs aren’t the only hearts you can win. If you successfully form a connection with both heroes, you’ll unlock a secret ending where Cupid himself tells you that he admires your dedication to love in all its forms. You’ll get a unique reward for earning this ending, which transfers to your Battle.net account.

Why a dating sim?

Overwatch has needed something like this for years. It’s a bright, vibrant game filled with characters who inspire late-night lore-binging sessions, yet the core game is a competitive shooter — not the most inviting or accessible environment for everyone. A dating sim is a great way for Blizzard to get the game and its characters out in front of more people without asking them to go through the terrors of online matchmaking. The writers do a remarkable job of slipping in-jokes into the dialogue for people who’ve played for years, while still providing context for people who might’ve joined when Overwatch 2 launched as a free-to-play game.

The developers seem to be aware of the potential for engagement outside of the core gameplay. Overwatch Brand Manager Beth Bryson said that, as part of the game’s new free-to-play model, “We’re going to give [fans] ways to experience the Overwatch world and experience our heroes and interact with them in unique and different ways,” and Loverwatch is the introductory path.

According to Senior Narrative Designer Miranda Moyer, heroes are the lifeblood of the game, and the Overwatch developers were enthusiastic about giving fans an opportunity to interact with those heroes in a more character-focused experience. Moyer wrote Genji’s path in the dating sim.

Narrative Designer Kyungseo Min, who wrote Mercy’s path, said, “We wanted to [expand the universe] in a way where we wanted to include members of the community who kinda felt left out by the PVP experience,” and that a project like Loverwatch gives them the opportunity to expand while being inclusive.

Will there be more Overwatch dating sims?

Everyone who plays the game seems to be asking for more. Bryson said the hope is that the player response will be big enough to explore other avenues like Loverwatch. “I think there’s a very large appetite for that within the team. No promises, but we certainly make a stronger case for ourselves if players are jumping in and enjoying it.”

Moyer added, “There is absolutely a lot of enthusiasm behind this project, and we have a ton of ideas for the rest of the cast.”

Maybe your ultimate hope is to be able to court the troubled-but-wholesome members of Overwatch or the more complicated heroes like Ashe or the members of Talon. Or perhaps you just have an unquenchable thirst for one of the game’s omnics. Regardless, the best way to guarantee that possibility is to go play Loverwatch right now. Trust me, it’s worth the 10 minutes or so a single playthrough will take you, and you’ll be helping out the entire Overwatch community by advancing our obsession.

For more on Overwatch, check out how the newest hero expands the game’s lore and what you can find in the new map.

The Oppo Find N2 Flip has arrived. The Chinese company showed off its first flip phone at a global launch event on Wednesday. Oppo’s clamshell-style phone appears to be heavily inspired by the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4’s squarish design, but with a notably different cover screen.

Unlike the Z Flip 4, the Find N2 Flip’s cover display has a vertical orientation and is much bigger, measuring 3.26 inches with a resolution of 720×382 pixels. By comparison, the Z Flip 4 has a 1.9-inch external display with 260×512-pixel resolution; last year’s Motorola Razr came with a 2.7-inch cover screen with a 573×800-pixel resolution. In fact, the Find N2 Flip has the largest vertical cover screen on any flip phone.

Apart from the display, the Find N2 Flip has all the features you’d expect from a flip phone in 2023. There are two rear cameras, including one with a 50-megapixel sensor, a 32-megapixel front-facing camera, a capable processor (MediaTek Dimensity 9000 Plus) and a 4,300-mAh battery, which can be fast-charged at up to 44 watts. There’s no IP rating for water or dust resistance. For comparison, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 has an IPX8 rating, which means It can withstand water immersion but has no rated protection against dust. At this time there isn’t a foldable phone that is rated for dust resistance.

The Find N2 Flip will be available to preorder from today in the UK starting at 849, which converts roughly to $1,020 and AU$1,480. There are no plans currently for a US release, but the phone is set to hit stores in parts of Europe and Asia.

Now playing:Watch this:Watch Oppo Reveal Find N2 Flip

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Find N2 Flip’s cover screen is big

It’s commendable that Oppo dared to shake up the design of the cover screen on flip phones. Although this might not look as aesthetically elegant as the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s horizontal screen, I believe the Find N2 Flip’s cover screen has the potential for greater functionality. After all, it does boast the largest vertical cover screen on any flip phone.

In the few hours I spent with the phone, I found the Find N2 Flip’s cover screen convenient for quickly scanning the weather without needing to open up the phone. All I had to do was swipe left, and the cover screen would display my chosen widgets, including the camera, a timer, the weather and the recorder. I could receive notifications on it, but I couldn’t view my plans. I hope Oppo adds a Google Calendar widget to the cover screen.

Navigation is simple. You can swipe down the cover screen to bring up the control panel, swipe up to see a list of notifications and swipe left to bring up different widgets.

The camera widget lets you use the cover screen as a viewfinder, meaning you can take selfies and portrait photos and even shoot video without opening up the phone. Thanks to the larger screen size, you get a good idea of how the photo will turn out as you’re taking the photo.

Quick replies — also available on the Z Flip 4 — are another convenient feature on this device. When I received a WhatsApp message, I could simply reply from the cover screen by choosing from a set of prewritten templates. I also had the option to create my own message template. In addition to WhatsApp, the quick replies feature is available on Slack, Messenger, Telegram and Line. Like the Galaxy Z Flip 4, this phone doesn’t allow you to type or dictate a reply without opening up the phone. You’re limited to the templates.

In its current form, however, the Find N2 Flip’s cover screen has limited functionality compared to the one on Motorola Razr. In 2020, the second-generation Razr got a full keyboard for typing and the ability to curate apps suited for the cover screen (such as Gmail and YouTube), and it even lets you play games like PUBG mobile. I wish the cover display on the Find N2 Flip offered such freedom and utility, but there certainly is potential if Oppo manages to nail the software component.

The Find N2 Flip has a 50-megapixel camera

There are two rear cameras on this phone: a 50-megapixel main camera and an 8-megapixel ultrawide. The Find N2 Flip lacks a telephoto camera so don’t expect it to take crisp shots of faraway subjects. At this point, there isn’t a foldable flip phone that includes a dedicated telephoto camera. I took a few pictures. Images tend to look soft when you zoom in digitally to a 5x magnification. To be fair, you’re not likely to be buying this phone for its zoom skills. I found the photos I took with the Oppo respectable. Take a look below at some examples.

The Find N2 Flip’s inner display has a slight crease

The inner display of the Find N2 flip takes the form of a 6.8-inch AMOLED panel. At first glance, you might not notice the crease that runs across the screen. Sometimes it appears when you’re holding it at certain angles or under bright lighting. I can also feel it on occasion when I’m scrolling or interacting with the screen. For the most part, however, the crease didn’t sour my experience and it’s by no means a deal-breaker. Otherwise, the display looked crisp, was responsive and reasonably bright in sunny conditions.

The main display has a 120Hz refresh rate, which made navigating between apps and scrolling through news feeds look smooth. This year, Oppo has updated its hinge, which the company says is smaller and thinner, yet stronger than the one on its predecessor. According to the company, Find N2 Flip has been tested for 400,000 folds. Oppo says the display also has an ultrathin glass coating that should help with durability.

For more details on the Oppo Find N2 Flip, take a look at the specs chart below.

With one week to go before the PlayStation VR 2’s Feb. 22 launch, Sony gave us a look at the $550 PS5 headset and its Sense controller’s internal components in a pair of teardown videos.

The first sees Takamasa Araki, head of PlayStation’s mechanical design team, smoothly pulling the PS VR 2 headset apart using his hands, a screwdriver and tweezers. He discusses each element in detail, though seeing the dinky little fan that’s designed to stop you from turning into a sweaty mess as you play, and the mechanics of the lens adjustment dial are some of the most satisfying.

Araki also reveals how the device tracks your eye movements; each lens has an infrared LED working with an IR camera that captures its light.

The second video follows Takeshi Igarashi from the peripheral design team as he dissects the PS VR2 Sense controller. He highlights how finger-touch detection enables players to make more natural hand gestures as they play, along with the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers that mirror the DualSense wireless controller.

Sony warns us not try these teardowns at home, since doing so invalidates the device’s warranty.

Here lies the body of Internet Explorer 11. At one point, it ruled the web browser world. Now it is dead.

Microsoft permanently disabled its out-of-support legacy browser on Tuesday in a move to improve user experience and transfer organizations to its newer Edge browser, the company said. This applies to “certain versions of Windows 10,” Microsoft noted.

“With a growing number of websites no longer supporting Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge offers a faster, more secure, and more modern browsing experience that can still open legacy, Internet Explorer-dependent sites when needed,” Microsoft said in a statement.

As of Tuesday, devices that hadn’t already been redirected from IE11 to Microsoft Edge will be, according to Microsoft.

At one point in the past, Internet Explorer ruled the browser realm. In 2003, it controlled 95% of the browser market. The days of Internet Explorer’s reign are long over, though, and Microsoft moved on to Edge. But Microsoft’s push to integrate the newly AI-boosted Bing search engine into Edge has sparked new interest in both.

When the news that Microsoft was nixing Internet Explorer spread last summer, the public reaction was emotional and hilarious. The browser got its own headstone in South Korea, and IE memes abounded.

Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to create some personal finance explainers that are edited and fact-checked by our editors. For more, see this post.

Oppo’s first flip phone has arrived. The Chinese company showed off the Find N2 Flip at its global launch event on Wednesday. Oppo’s clamshell-style phone appears to be heavily inspired by Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4, but with a notably different cover screen and perhaps a more squarish design.

Unlike the Z Flip 4, the cover display has a vertical orientation, as opposed to a horizontal layout. It’s also much bigger, measuring 3.26 inches with a resolution of 720×382 pixels. By comparison, the Z Flip 4 has a 1.9-inch external display with 260×512-pixel resolution. In fact, the Find N2 Flip has the largest vertical cover screen on any flip phone.

Apart from the display, the Find N2 Flip has all the features you’d expect from a flip phone in 2023. There are two rear cameras, led by a 50-megapixel lens, a 32-megapixel front-facing camera, a capable processor (MediaTek Dimensity 9000 Plus) and a 4,300-mAh battery, which can be fast-charged at up to 44 watts. There’s no IP rating for water- or dust-resistance. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 has an IPX8 rating, which means it’s also more of an indoor device: It can withstand water immersion but has no official protection against dust.

The Find N2 Flip will be available to pre-order from today and will start at 849 in UK. There are no plans currently for a US release, but this phone is set to hit stores in parts of Europe and Asia.

Find N2 Flip’s cover screen is the biggest display on any flip phone

It’s commendable that Oppo dared to shake up the design of the cover screen on flip phones. Although this might not look as aesthetically elegant as the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s horizontal screen, I believe the Find N2 Flip’s cover screen has the potential for greater functionality. After all, it does boast the largest vertical cover screen on any flip phone.

I found it convenient to use the Find N2 Flip’s cover screen to quickly scan the weather without needing to open up the phone as I went about my day. All I had to do was swipe left, and the cover screen would display my chosen widgets, including the camera, a timer, the weather and the recorder. I wish Google Calendar was included on the list of the widgets — I could still receive notifications from it, but I couldn’t view my plans from the cover screen.

Navigation is simple. You can swipe down the cover screen to bring up the control panel, swipe up to see a list of notifications and swipe left to bring up different widgets.

The camera widget lets you use the cover screen as a viewfinder, allowing you to take selfies, take portrait photos and even shoot video without opening up the phone. Thanks to the larger screen size, you get a good idea of how the photo will turn out as you’re taking the photo.

Quick replies — also available on the Z Flip 4 — are another convenient feature on this device. When I received a Whatsapp message, I could simply reply from the cover screen by choosing from a set of prewritten templates. I also had the option to create my own message template. In addition to WhatsApp, the quick replies feature is available on Slack, Messenger, Telegram and Line. Like the Galaxy Z Flip 4, this phone doesn’t allow you to type or dictate a reply without opening up the phone. You’re limited to the templates.

In its current form, however, the Find N2 Flips cover screen has limited functionality compared to the one on the Motorola’s Razr 2020. The Razr 2020 serves up a full keyboard for typing, curates apps that are well suited for the cover screen, such as Gmail and YouTube, and it even lets you play PUBG. I wish the cover display on the Oppo offered such freedoms and utility, but there certainly is potential if Oppo manages to nail the software component.

Find N2 Flip camera

There are two rear cameras on this phone, consisting of a 50-megapixel main camera and an 8-megapixel ultrawide. While this phone has respectable cameras, don’t expect it to take crisp shots of faraway subjects. In fact, images tend to soften when you zoom in digitally by around 5x. To be fair, you’re not likely to be buying this phone for its camera or its zoom skills (there’s no telephoto camera), but for its compact and approachable design. Taking that into account, I found the photos respectable. You can see the camera in action here.

Find N2 Flip’s inner display has a slight crease

The inner display of the Find N2 flip takes the form of a 6.8-inch AMOLED panel. At first glance, you might not see any crease running across the screen, but sometimes it’ll appear in certain angles or in bright lighting conditions. You can also feel it on occasion. For the most part, however, the crease didn’t interfere with my user experience and it’s by no means a deal-breaker for me. After all, the display looked crisp, was responsive and reasonably bright in sunny conditions.

It also has a 120Hz refresh rate, which made navigating between apps and scrolling through news feeds a smooth experience. This year, Oppo has updated its hinge, which the company says is smaller and thinner, yet stronger than the one on its predecessor. According to the company, Find N2 Flip has been tested for 400,000 folds. Oppo says the display also has an ultrathin glass coating that should help with durability.

For more details on the Oppo Find N2 Flip, take a look at the specs chart below.

If you’re looking for the best tablet experience, you’re likely going to end up buying an Apple iPad. The devices are sleek, powerful and come packed with features, though one major drawback is that they’re quite pricey. If you don’t mind a few imperfections, a refurbished model can be a great way to save some dough. Right now Woot has various refurbished iPad models on sale with prices starting as low as $120. You can take advantage of these deals now through Feb. 20 while supplies last.

The most affordable tablet in the sale is Apple’s fifth-gen iPad at $125. By today’s standards, its A8 chip isn’t particularly powerful, but it is still capable of running the latest iPadOS 16 software and could serve you as a tablet for web browsing or streaming content, or as a cheap tablet for a kid. Sticking under $200, you could go for the subsequent sixth-gen iPad from $145, or nab the 9.7-inch iPad Pro which offers a slightly more powerful A9X chip and improved camera hardware for $165 in this sale.

If you’ve got a little more room in your budget, several more recent iPad Air and iPad Pro models are available in the sale with prices from $400. Not only will these offer a little more longevity by virtue of being newer hardware, but they also have larger screens at 11 or 12.9 inches. Devices from 2018 and 2020 are included in the sale.

Keep in mind that the iPads included in this sale have been rated as “scratch and dent”-grade refurbs, which means the devices may show signs of regular wear and tear, but have been tested and ensured to be in full working condition. Plus, your purchase also comes with a 90-day Woot limited warranty, just in case. You can shop the entire sale selection of refurbished iPads right now at Woot.

Between work documents, family photos and (of course) memes, it’s important to keep all your files safely stored and organized. Backing them up on an external storage drive is a great place to start, but you’ll want to keep your most precious files somewhere that can never be lost, damaged or stolen. And that means you’ll want to use the best cloud storage service available, which allows you to access your files whenever, wherever, while also saving space on your phone, tablet or computer.

Cloud storage is also important for people working from home who have to share files with colleagues. There are plenty of free cloud storage services available, with many offering upgraded paid plans, which means it’s easy to find a plan that can meet your needs to keep your data stored safely. The best cloud storage options usually feature individual and business plans, but for this article’s purposes, we’ll be focusing on plans for the average user.

We’ve compiled a guide to the most popular cloud storage services: how they work, their strengths and weaknesses, and some lesser-known services if you want to get away from the mainstream. (To be clear, we have not tested these — rather, we are just providing an overview and some analysis of some of the top options in the market.)

What is cloud storage?

Cloud storage is a type of computer data storage that allows your files to be immediately available on almost any internet-connected device anywhere. Files are stored on servers in a data center, instead of directly on your device.

Best cloud storage service options

Sarah Tew/CNET

Google Drive

Pros

• Affordable, customizable personal plans with features that make sense for the average user
• Neat management in dedicated app
• Easy to use for existing Google accounts

Cons

• Google One subscription only applies to one email address
• Finding Google One info requires a bit of scrolling on the website

How much free space you get
Google Drive offers 15GB of free storage.

What you’ll pay for
If you’re looking to expand your personal plan (which defaults as a basic free account), you’ll need to check out Google One.

Google One offers six different membership plans, the basic plan being 100GB for $2 per month. The Google One app makes it easy to manage your account, swap between plans, free up account storage, and take advantage of special member benefits.

If you visit Google’s Workspace website, you’ll see business plans between $6 and $18 per month per user. Every business plan comes with a 14-day free trial.

Supported OS
Google One and Google Drive business accounts are supported across Android, iOS, MacOS and Windows

Bottom Line
If you’re looking to expand your personal storage, Google One is an easy-to-use app that demystifies cloud storage and how to get the most out of your plan.

See at Google

Sarah Tew/CNET

Microsoft OneDrive

Pros

• Microsoft 365 Personal and Microsoft 365 Family offer a ton of storage for a reasonable price
• OneDrive Standalone is available if you’re not looking for extra features

Cons

• There isn’t a middle-ground option to get a ton of storage without extra features
• No option to increase storage space for OneDrive Standalone

How much free space you get
Microsoft OneDrive offers 5GB of free storage with the Basic free account.

What you’ll pay for
Microsoft has a robust selection of plans. For personal needs, users can choose between Microsoft 365 Personal, Microsoft 365 Family and OneDrive Standalone. Personal and Family offer the most bang for your buck, but if you’re just looking for storage, these options are loaded with features you don’t need. For storage-only, you can subscribe to OneDrive Standalone which offers 50GB of storage for $1 per month or $10 annually. And starting Jan. 30, Microsoft 365 will introduce a new, “Basic” tier that includes 100GB of storage for $2 or $20 annually, billed upfront, which might be a better choice if the 50GB plan is a bit too limiting.

Supported OS
Microsoft OneDrive works on PC, Mac, Android and iOS.

Bottom Line
Microsoft’s plans offer generous packages at reasonable prices for the average user. In addition, the OneDrive Standalone option means you won’t be forced into buying more than you need.

See at Microsoft

Screenshot/Apple

Apple iCloud

Pros

• Paid tiers are affordable
• Larger focus on privacy
• Homekit integration

Cons

• iOS only
• Not all Plus subscribers use HomeKit

How much free space you get
Apple iCloud offers 5GB of free storage for all Apple device owners.

What you’ll pay for
If 5GB isn’t enough space, you can upgrade to iCloud Plus and get 50GB ($1/month), 200GB ($3/month) or 2TB ($10/month). All three paid plans include Private Relay, Hide My Email, HomeKit Secure video and Family Sharing.

Supported OS
Apple’s iCloud storage is only available for iOS and MacOS.

Bottom Line
Apple iCloud is an easy cloud storage service for Apple users to check out because it’s already native to the device. Upgrading from the basic tier is easy and Apple thankfully doesn’t tuck away useful features behind the highest-priced plan.

See at Apple

Dropbox

Dropbox

Pros

• Clean, easy-to-navigate website
• App integrations with Slack, Asana, Zoom, Google Workspace and more

Cons

• Offers least amount of free storage
• Most expensive plans
• Personal plans don’t differ enough to warrant separate, differently priced plans

How much free space you get
Dropbox offers 2GB of free storage

What you’ll pay for
Dropbox offers Plus and Family plans for $10/month and $17/month respectively. Both plans offer 2TB of storage, with Family divvying up the space among six users. Based on the site’s comparison, there don’t appear to be enough differences to warrant charging almost double for the Family plan. There is also Dropbox Professional, which offers one user 3TB of storage for around $17/month.

Supported OS
Dropbox works on PC, Android and iOS.

Bottom Line
Dropbox’s plans are loaded with features, but offer very little middle ground for user customization. Adding one more personal plan ahead of Plus could give customers a bridge between 2GB and 2TB.

See at Dropbox

Sarah Tew/CNET

Amazon Drive

Pros

• Unlimited photo storage with a Prime membership
• Clean, easily understandable user interface on desktop and mobile

Cons

• Moving towards photo and video only in 2023
• Only three plans with monthly payment options

How much free space you get
If you have an Amazon account, you automatically get 5GB of photo, video and file storage for free. If you’re a Prime subscriber, you get unlimited photo storage.

What you’ll pay for
Amazon has multiple paid plans, but you may not want to invest too much right now with the service planning to transition next year. You can upgrade your plan to 100GB ($2/month), 1TB ($7/month) or 2TB ($12/month). After that, there are 10 other plans available going all the way up to 30TB, but those plans renew annually and it’s unlikely the average user would need so much space.

Supported OS
Amazon Drive is available on desktop, as well as iOS and Android. After Drive shuts down, the Amazon Photos app will require a separate download.

Bottom Line
Amazon Drive is still an option for storage, but as of Dec. 31, 2023, Amazon Drive will no longer be supported and Amazon will put more focus into Amazon Photos. The iOS and Android app will no longer be available for download as of Oct. 31 of this year. After that, you’ll need to download the Amazon Photos app. For now, you can still upload files on the Amazon Drive website until Jan. 31, 2023.

See at Amazon

Other Cloud Storage Options

Of course, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box and Amazon aren’t your only cloud storage options.

SugarSync is a Dropbox-like alternative with apps for every mobile platform. The service offers personal and business plans with a 30-day free trial to start. With a personal SugarSync account, you get 100GB for $7.49 a month, $250GB for $10 a month or 500GB for $18.95 a month. The service offers secure file-sharing (even if they don’t have an account), collaboration, file syncing, as well as remote data wipe in the event of loss, theft or damage.

Another option for cloud storage is pCloud. The service offers annual and lifetime plans for individuals, families and businesses. PCloud doesn’t limit file sizes and doesn’t throttle your upload or download speeds. While your pCloud files are securely stored on the company’s servers, you can add an extra layer of protection by purchasing pCloud Crypto. PCloud Crypto provides client-side encryption where the encrypted version of your files are stored on pCloud servers, but the plain-text files stay on your computer. With your Crypto Pass code, you can encrypt or decrypt your files.

You can subscribe to Premium 500GB ($50 a year) or Premium Plus 2TB ($100 a year). Both of these plans, as well as the Custom 10TB Plan also offer a lifetime subscription for a flat fee. Customers can start with annual plans and upgrade to lifetime plans later if they choose.

Cloud storage: Terms to know

Cloud: This refers to software and services that are stored on the internet, instead of locally on your computer or phone. The cloud allows you to access your files anywhere with an internet connection.

Data center: Even though your files are stored in the cloud, there is still physical hardware involved. The company that you’ve purchased cloud storage from — like Google or Apple — will have actual servers where customer information lives.

Terabyte: A terabyte is a unit of measurement for digital data. One terabyte equals about 1,000 GB.

Frequently asked questions

How do I clear my cloud storage?

The process for clearing your cloud storage may vary depending on which service you use. In the Google One app, for example, there’s a Free Up Account Storage button.

Why use cloud storage?

Instead of having to remember a thumb drive, or emailing items to yourself, cloud storage lets you access your files, documents and photos on demand. If your computer or phone crashes, you don’t have to worry about losing your content, because those files are stored on a separate server. Cloud storage can be a convenient option because options like Google One, iCloud and OneDrive are built into services many use on a daily basis. Cloud storage also lets you keep your device’s local storage freed up.

Is cloud storage safe?

According to Norton, cloud storage is a safe option for users because the on-site servers are usually located in warehouses that few employees have access to. In addition, the files stored on the servers are encrypted, adding another layer of security.

No type of digital storage is risk-free, but cloud storage services also offer more immediate security features like two-factor authentication and security checkups. Privacy and security features may vary between services.

How much cloud storage do I need?

How much storage you’ll need will depend on what you’re storing. A student will likely need a smaller storage plan than a professional photographer. If your needs change, most plans let you easily upgrade or downgrade.

For more information, check out how to clear up space in your Google Drive and the best iPhones of 2023.

Sarah Mitroff contributed to this article.

Now playing:Watch this:Everything Revealed at Google’s Pixel Event (October…

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Overwatch 2 promised players some unexpected things in season 3, and the biggest and best surprise has been the web-based dating sim Loverwatch. In the game, you’re guided by Hanzo in cupid form as he helps you navigate your way to Genji’s or Mercy’s heart. The path will take you to Overwatch locales like Midtown and Circuit Royale as you spend time with your date and get to know them better. It’s a hilarious ride filled with Overwatch in-jokes and a surprising amount of heart.

You can play Loverwatch by going to loverwatch.gg. It plays directly in your web browser — no downloads required. If you sign in to your Battle.net account, you’ll be able to earn in-game rewards for successfully earning the admiration of the Overwatch heroes, though some rewards will be added only at a later date.

As I mentioned in CNET’s season 3 guide, the Overwatch roster is overflowing with eligible dates. Of those 30-plus heroes, though, Genji and Mercy are two of the most popular, with plenty of backstory to draw from. That makes them good choices for what’s hopefully the first Overwatch dating sim, or at least the first iteration of it. The game itself hints at the hopes for future installments.

Loverwatch, as weird and unexpected as the project might seem, is one of the best things Overwatch has produced. CNET got to talk to the game’s writers and brand manager in media interviews the day after its launch. Here’s what we learned about the game’s origins and the possibility of fans getting more in the future.

Is Loverwatch canon?

No. The writers pulled from the characters’ personalities based on longstanding lore and in-game interactions, but the events of the dating sim aren’t canon. The game states that upfront before players begin courting the hero of their choice.

How to get the secret ending

For the rewards hunters: Genji and Mercy are the two options at the start of the game, but theirs aren’t the only hearts you can win. If you successfully form a connection with both heroes, you’ll unlock a secret ending where Cupid himself tells you that he admires your dedication to love in all its forms. You’ll get a unique reward for earning this ending, which transfers to your Battle.net account.

Why a dating sim?

Overwatch has needed something like this for years. It’s a bright, vibrant game filled with characters who inspire late-night lore-binging sessions, yet the core game is a competitive shooter — not the most inviting or accessible environment for everyone. A dating sim is a great way for Blizzard to get the game and its characters out in front of more people without asking them to go through the terrors of online matchmaking. The writers do a remarkable job of slipping in-jokes into the dialogue for people who’ve played for years, while still providing context for people who might’ve joined when Overwatch 2 launched as a free-to-play game.

The developers seem to be aware of the potential for engagement outside of the core gameplay. Overwatch Brand Manager Beth Bryson said that, as part of the game’s new free-to-play model, “We’re going to give [fans] ways to experience the Overwatch world and experience our heroes and interact with them in unique and different ways,” and Loverwatch is the introductory path.

According to Senior Narrative Designer Miranda Moyer, heroes are the lifeblood of the game, and the Overwatch developers were enthusiastic about giving fans an opportunity to interact with those heroes in a more character-focused experience. Moyer wrote Genji’s path in the dating sim.

Narrative Designer Kyungseo Min, who wrote Mercy’s path, said, “We wanted to [expand the universe] in a way where we wanted to include members of the community who kinda felt left out by the PVP experience,” and that a project like Loverwatch gives them the opportunity to expand while being inclusive.

Will there be more Overwatch dating sims?

Everyone who plays the game seems to be asking for more. Bryson said the hope is that the player response will be big enough to explore other avenues like Loverwatch. “I think there’s a very large appetite for that within the team. No promises, but we certainly make a stronger case for ourselves if players are jumping in and enjoying it.”

Moyer added, “There is absolutely a lot of enthusiasm behind this project, and we have a ton of ideas for the rest of the cast.”

Maybe your ultimate hope is to be able to court the troubled-but-wholesome members of Overwatch or the more complicated heroes like Ashe or the members of Talon. Or perhaps you just have an unquenchable thirst for one of the game’s omnics. Regardless, the best way to guarantee that possibility is to go play Loverwatch right now. Trust me, it’s worth the 10 minutes or so a single playthrough will take you, and you’ll be helping out the entire Overwatch community by advancing our obsession.

For more on Overwatch, check out how the newest hero expands the game’s lore and what you can find in the new map.

Though it has only been available since October of last year, we have already seen some solid deals on Google’s Pixel Watch , which won a CNET Editors’ Choice Award for 2022.

Officially unveiled alongside the Pixel 7 series of phones at Google’s October media event, the Pixel Watch is the company’s first crack at a first-party smartwatch. Though Google has made Wear OS software available to other smartwatches for years and finalized its acquisition of Fitbit in 2021, the Pixel Watch is the first all-Google smartwatch.

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The Pixel Watch features a round display, interchangeable bands and customizable watch faces. Wear OS has been redesigned for the round display, and the watch features all of the Google apps you would expect, plus fitness features powered by Fitbit smarts. It runs on an Exynos 9110 processor along with a coprocessor and should last for 24 hours per charge, according to Google. It features accurate heart rate tracking and can take an ECG from the wrist, and will be updated with the ability to take blood oxygen saturation measurements. Similar to Apple Watch, fall detection is also built in.

Interestingly, unlike other Wear OS smartwatches, Pixel Watch is only compatible with Android. In a move akin to Apple’s approach with the Apple Watch, you’ll have to remain within the Google ecosystem to enjoy Google’s new wearable.

The Pixel Watch retails at $350 and is available now.

What colors does the Pixel Watch come in?

The Pixel Watch is available in four different finishes: matte black with an obsidian active band, polished silver with a charcoal active band, polished silver with a chalk active band or champagne gold with a hazel active band. The bands are interchangeable, and many third-party options are already available for endless customization options.

How much does the Pixel Watch cost?

Pixel Watch is available with or without cellular connectivity with prices starting at $349. Here’s how the pricing breaks down in full in the US:

• Pixel Watch: $350
• Pixel Watch (cellular): $400

Best Pixel Watch deals

Google

Google Pixel Watch at AT&T: $200

$200 off

AT&T is offering the Pixel Watch for just $5.56 per month with a new line on an eligible installment plan over 36 months. That makes the LTE watch just $200 — a 50% saving.

$200 at AT&T

Google

Pixel Watch at Verizon

Buy one, get one free

Buy two Pixel Watch devices at Verizon and save $400, essentially scoring the second device for free. You’ll need to add at least one new line and activate both devices on your wireless plan, then the $400 will be applied as bill credits. Other deals include as much as $180 off when you trade in your old smartwatch or a free Pixel Watch when purchased alongside an eligible Android phone.

See at Verizon

Google

Google Pixel Watch: $350

Fitbit Premium and YouTube Music with purchase

You can also go straight to the source for your Pixel Watch order by purchasing at the Google Store. Like at other retailers, the Wi-Fi-only model is $350, but you’ll also nab six months of Fitbit Premium and three months of YouTube Music Premium for free.

$300 at Google Store

Google

Google Pixel Watch: $350

Fitbit Premium with purchase

Right now this watch is listed at full-price. But if Amazon is your preferred retailer, we have seen the Pixel Watch drop as low as $299 for the Wi-Fi model, so you may want to wait for another sale if you aren’t in a hurry. Either way, you’ll get six months of Fitbit Premium included with your purchase, too.

$350 at Amazon

You’re receiving price alerts for Google Pixel Watch: $350

Google

Google Pixel Watch: $349

5% off with Target RedCard

Google’s Pixel Watch is technically still full price at Target, though you can save a further 5% off your purchase if you pay with Target’s RedCard.

$349 at Target

You’re receiving price alerts for Google Pixel Watch (Black)

Google

Google Pixel Watch: $350

No discounts currently available

The Google Pixel Watch is available at Best Buy with delivery or in-store pickup options right now, but there are no discounts currently available. However, if you have a device to trade-in, you may be able to score some credit towards your purchase.

$300 at Best Buy

You’re receiving price alerts for Google Pixel Watch (Black)

Google

Google Pixel Watch: $350

No discounts currently available

The Google Pixel Watch is available in its various Wi-Fi configurations at Walmart. Currently, you will be paying full price for it, but we will keep you posted on when the next deal is available.

$299 at Walmart

You’re receiving price alerts for Google Pixel Watch (Black)

Overwatch 2 promised players some unexpected things in season 3, and the biggest and best surprise has been the web-based dating sim, Loverwatch. In the game, you’re guided by Hanzo in cupid form as he helps you navigate your way to Genji’s or Mercy’s heart. The path will take you to Overwatch locales like Midtown and Circuit Royale as you spend time with your date and get to know them better. It’s a hilarious ride filled with Overwatch in-jokes and a surprising amount of heart.

You can play Loverwatch by going to loverwatch.gg. It plays directly in your web browser — no downloads required. If you sign in to your Battle.net account, you’ll be able to earn in-game rewards for successfully earning the admiration of the Overwatch heroes, though some rewards will be added only at a later date.

As I mentioned in CNET’s season 3 guide, the Overwatch roster is overflowing with eligible dates. Of those 30-plus heroes, though, Genji and Mercy are two of the most popular, with plenty of backstory to draw from. That makes them good choices for what’s hopefully the first Overwatch dating sim, or at least the first iteration of it. The game itself hints at the hopes for future installments.

Overwatch has needed something like this for years. It’s a bright, vibrant game filled with characters who inspire late-night lore-binging sessions, yet the core game is a competitive shooter — not the most inviting or accessible environment for everyone. A dating sim is a great way for Blizzard to get the game and its characters out in front of more people without asking them to go through the terrors of online matchmaking. The writers do a remarkable job of slipping in-jokes into the dialogue for people who’ve played for years, while still providing context for people who might’ve joined when Overwatch 2 launched as a free-to-play game.

So, whether you’re an Overwatch veteran or someone who’s been waiting for an opportunity to engage with the game without being yelled at by strangers online, check out Loverwatch — it’s one of the best things Overwatch has produced.

How to get the secret ending

For the rewards hunters: Genji and Mercy are the two options at the start of the game, but theirs aren’t the only hearts you can win. If you successfully form a connection with both heroes, you’ll unlock a secret ending where Cupid himself tells you that he admires your dedication to love in all its forms. You’ll get a unique reward for earning this ending, which transfers to your Battle.net account.

For more on Overwatch, check out how the newest hero expands the game’s lore and what you can find in the new map.