Category: Technologies

In March Verizon announced Plus Play, a central location to manage all your streaming services and subscriptions. The company promised a full launch by the end of the year, and while it hasn’t fully reached that goal, Verizon is finally opening up the service in beta to its mobile and 5G and 4G LTE home internet customers.

To get people to try its free subscription management platform, the carrier is dangling a “limited time” offer of one year of Netflix Premium for free if you also sign up for “a 12-month or seasonal subscription” to one of its other partners. Initial eligible options include the NFL’s NFL Plus, the NBA’s League Pass, AMC Plus, Super Duolingo, Calm and Peloton.

Verizon says it will have 20 partners for the beta launch — including Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, HBO Max, Discovery Plus and The Athletic — with an undisclosed “many more” partners coming in the first quarter of 2023.

Netflix Premium normally runs $20 a month ($240 for the year) and includes 4K streaming and the ability to watch on four devices at once. While you can’t sign up for a monthly subscription to a different service and then get this deal, there are a few “seasonal” options that make it pretty compelling.

A seasonal subscription to NFL Plus Premium, which lets you stream local and national NFL games on a phone or tablet, runs a one-time $25 for the rest of this season. Under Verizon’s promotion, spending that $25 and signing up for NFL Plus through Plus Play will also get you Netflix Premium for free for a year.

It is worth noting that the carrier also has a seasonal offer for the regular NFL Plus at $13, but despite it having that seasonal language only the $25 Premium version will apply for the Netflix offer (a similar situation exists for the NBA’s League Pass).

If you’re already on Netflix, you can bring over your subscription and move to Premium through Plus Play. However, Verizon doesn’t appear to offer Netflix’s other tiers, and it isn’t immediately clear if you’ll be able to downgrade from Premium through Plus Play after the free year offer expires. Verizon’s website has steps on how to migrate a Netflix account.

If you have HBO Max, you can move your existing subscriptions to the platform, though you can’t move most other services. according to Verizon’s FAQ. If you want to take advantage of most of Verizon’s Plus Play offers, you’ll likely need to cancel your current subscriptions and then make new accounts.

What you can and can’t do with Verizon Plus Play

Plus Play is intended to be a hub where Verizon users can sign up, manage and cancel a host of streaming services and subscriptions. The Play Plus website will also be where the carrier offers deals or trials to get you to sign up for new services. While the platform will recommend shows to watch or things to do, it won’t be a place for you to watch shows or view content. Instead. it will direct you to that service’s app or website.

Verizon previously told CNET that it wouldn’t be able to see which shows you’re watching or content you’re interacting with. Instead, it will make the recommendations “based on information about you we’ve acquired independently of what you are watching on a particular service,” Frank Boulben, chief revenue officer of Verizon’s consumer group, said in March.

If you leave Verizon’s wireless or home internet services you won’t necessarily lose access to Plus Play, though it isn’t immediately clear if you’ll still be able to adjust your plans or sign up for new services. CNET has reached out to Verizon for more information and will update if it responds.

Verizon won’t add these subscriptions to your monthly wireless or home internet bill, but will instead charge them to a credit or debit card you have on your account.

Unlike with a wireless bill, the carrier won’t charge you an extra fee to pay for a Plus Play service with a regular credit card. But it will give you 2% back on Plus Play subscriptions if you pay with its Verizon-branded credit card.

Verizon is limiting the beta access, but it plans to expand the Plus Play offering to its Fios users in the future. It hasn’t specified when that might happen, however. It also hasn’t announced when the service will be available to its prepaid wireless users.

Apple recently released the new M2-powered 2022 iPad Pro, which means we’re starting to see some nice discounts on 2021 models. So if you’re trying to get one of these powerful tablets in your hands for less, you won’t want to miss this one-day Target deal. Right now, you can save $250 on the 256GB, 512GB and 1TB models of the 11-inch 2021 iPad Pro, with prices starting at $650 (the 128GB model has already sold out online, though you may be able to find it available for pickup depending on your location). This offer expires tonight, so be sure to get your order in soon if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

Though it’s not quite as advanced as the new 2022 model, this 2021 iPad Pro is still one of the most powerful tablets you’ll find on the market right now. The M1 chip is the same one found in the previous generation of MacBooks, and it comes equipped with 8GB of RAM and Wi-Fi 6 support for lightning-fast performance over the web and offline. The screen is a stunning 11-inch Liquid Retina display, and it has a 12-megapixel camera that can capture 4K video. It weighs in at just over one pound, and with an all-day battery life, it’s perfect for taking care of some work while you’re on the go. And if you’re an artist, this tablet is compatible with the second-gen Apple Pencil, which you can snag on sale for $90, saving your $40.

If you’re in the market for a different model, you can check out our roundup of all the best iPad deals you can take advantage of right now.

Chromebooks, laptops running on Google’s ChromeOS, have been around for more than a decade. In that time Chromebooks have gone from basic internet appliances to excellent laptops for personal or professional use. Their user-friendly nature also makes them a good option for people who are less tech-savvy.

A lot of negative ideas about Chromebooks have circulated in the last 10 years, too, including the fallacy that you can’t use them offline and the devices are underpowered. Some of these critiques may have been true when Chromebooks were first released, but they have since been corrected or improved upon.

Here are eight Chromebook misconceptions to ignore when looking for a new laptop.

1. Chromebooks are underpowered

This is a common misconception that dates back to the Chromebook’s launch, when it was mainly used for accessing the internet via the Chrome browser. As more people started using Chromebooks, including for school and business, Google increased the functionality of the operating system and Chromebook makers improved their performance to take advantage of new features. Now, like other laptops, you get what you pay for with a Chromebook.

ChromeOS, the Chromebook operating system, still has low hardware requirements, though. This means Chromebooks can provide basic functionality for less money. Despite the low hardware requirements, Chromebooks can perform as well as — and in some cases better than — similarly priced Windows laptops.

“New Windows laptops for $200 are few and far between and, frankly, are rarely worth buying,” CNET’s Joshua Goldman writes. “Finding a good $200 Chromebook, on the other hand, is pretty easy to do… Premium Chromebooks typically start between $400 and $500, but can easily run more than $1,000 depending on your needs.”

The Lenovo Duet 3, for example, is $379, and it can stream videos, run almost any Android app and be used for cloud gaming via Nvidia GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud Gaming. Other premium Chromebooks, like the CNET Editor’s Choice award-winning Acer Chromebook Spin 714, are more expensive, but they can have up to 10 hours of battery life. They can also stream videos and handle productivity apps like Slack with ease.

Why a Chromebook Is Probably All You Need

See at Cnet

2. You can only use Chrome on Chromebooks

It’s understandable — yet incorrect — to think that Chromebooks, which run on ChromeOS, can only use a Chrome browser. You can run other browsers, like Brave and Firefox, on your Chromebook.

To use these browsers, you need to download the apps from the Google Play Store. While those apps are meant for Android phones, they will work on your Chromebook. Some apps have tablet support so they look cleaner and use the additional space on the screen of your Chromebook. Their windows can also be resized just like traditional desktop software.

3. Chromebooks aren’t safe to use

Chromebooks have multiple layers of protection to keep your data safe. For example, you’ll get automatic updates from Google so your device always has the latest patches. Chromebooks also run individual websites and apps in sandboxes to contain threats.

These security features make Chromebooks more secure than many other laptops. According to CVE Details, a security vulnerability datasource, ChromeOS has had about 50 security vulnerabilities since 2010. In comparison, Windows 10 has had almost 3,000 vulnerabilities since 2013.

4. Chromebooks don’t work offline

While the first models were designed to be used online only, Google changed that long ago so that many Chromebook apps will work with or without an internet connection. You can use your Chromebook to take notes, watch movies and listen to music when offline. You can even check and respond to emails or view, edit or create documents in Google Drive. In these cases, whatever emails you are sending or changes you are making to documents won’t go through until you reconnect to the internet.

5. You can’t game on Chromebooks

Years ago you could only play web-based games on your Chromebook but since 2016, you can play many of the games in the Google Play Store. That includes games like Roblox and Apex Legends Mobile. You can also play games from Steam, Nvidia’s GeForce Now, Amazon Luna and Xbox Cloud Gaming on your Chromebook.

Google is even selling Chromebooks made for cloud gaming. The Acer Chromebook 516 GE, Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip and Lenovo Ideapad Gaming Chromebook are the first three gaming Chromebooks that let anyone play AAA computer games without a high-end gaming PC using cloud services.

6. Chromebooks aren’t good for photo or video editing

For basic editing, the Google Play Store has a number of photo and video editing apps, including Adobe’s Android apps and LumaFusion, which are Chromebook-compatible. Google also unveiled a new video editor and movie maker in Google Photos in July.

If you’re a business professional and need more advanced photo- or video-editing capabilities, like Adobe InDesign or Photoshop, you’ll still want a Windows, Mac or Linux laptop. However, if you are putting together a family photo album or a video for a family reunion, Chromebooks have everything you need.

7. Chromebooks can’t run Microsoft Office

Yes, you can run Microsoft Office on your Chromebook. However, instead of using the software suite made for Windows or MacOS, you’ll use Microsoft’s Office progressive web apps, or PWAs.

PWAs are like the mobile versions of websites, but they give you more features, like offline use and push notifications. There are PWAs for Microsoft Office 365 that work great on Chromebooks. Besides having to download the PWAs, using them is the same as using the web versions of Office 365. Microsoft Office power users might find that Office PWAs aren’t as robust as the desktop software, but the PWAs will likely meet most people’s needs.

8. You can’t use Windows on a Chromebook

This one is half true. While you can’t install Windows onto your Chromebook, you can access the operating system via remote access. You can use remote computer access tools, like Parallels for Chrome or Chrome’s Remote Desktop, to connect your Chromebook to a Windows computer.

Parallels lets you run full-featured Windows applications and is mainly meant for business users. Chrome’s Remote Desktop takes minutes to set up and can be used to access Windows — or Mac — software on your Chromebook. Is this cheating? Maybe, but I won’t tell if you won’t.

For more on Chromebooks, check out these seven Chromebooks for any budget, how to get Steam on your Chromebook and how to run Windows Office on your Chromebook.

Now playing:Watch this:Here’s why a Chromebook might be all the laptop you need

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The first ever description of the snake clitoris has been made by researchers in Australia and the US.

In a new study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B on Tuesday, describes the size and shape of the snake clitoris — or hemiclitoris, as it’s known — from nine different species across the world. Via dissection and the use of 3D X-ray scanning technology, the researchers were able to study female snake genitalia and compare it with the genitalia of male snakes, the hemipenis.

Previous research had misidentified the hemiclitoris in snakes as either hemipenes or scent glands. To clear things up, the team dug through older research and identified the physiological structures present in the snake via histology (studying cells and structures down a microscope). Two female death adders were key specimens, helping to fully elucidate the structure.

The research team, led by University of Adelaide Ph.D candidate Megan Folwell, found a heart-shaped organ, rich with nerves and clusters of red blood cells, suggesting it may become engorged and could be stimulated during mating.

“This is important because snake mating is often thought to involve coercion of the female — not seduction,” Kate Sanders, a biologist at the University of Adelaide and co-author on the paper, said in a press release.

The team concludes the snake clitoris is “likely functional” and the differences across species may, in future work, be correlated with different courtship and mating behaviors. The team hypothesizes the hemiclitoris may also be able to provide female snakes with sensation during sex and promote “longer and more frequent mating” — providing a better opportunity for fertilization and leading to more tiny, adorable snake babies.

But why did it take so long to find the snake clitoris? It’s not surprising female snakes have one, considering this is true for most female amniotes (the group of land-dwelling animals that includes reptiles and mammals) except birds. But as Jenna Crowe-Riddell, a co-author and neuroecologist at La Trobe Un writes in The Conversation, the reason we didn’t already know about the organ is three-fold.

For one, snake genitalia is mostly hidden within the tail. There’s also the quirk of some snake species with intersex individuals that have both ovaries and a hemipenes, confusing identification even more. Folwell and the team recently discussed these challenges in a June review paper.

More generally, female genitalia just doesn’t receive the same kind of research attention that male genitalia does. That’s true not only for snakes, but across mammal species and humans, too.

Today, the snake clitoris finally gets its moment.

Apple has just released iOS 16.2. The latest software update for the iPhone brings several new features to iOS 16, including Apple Music Sing, which allows you to adjust the volume for vocals so you can sing along to your favorite songs, and Apple Advanced Protection, a privacy feature that adds end-to-end encryption to several components of iCloud, including text message backups, photos, notes and more.

iOS 16.2 also adds Apple’s whiteboard app Freeform, two new lock screen widgets (including one for your medications), improvements to the always-on display, new AirDrop settings and sports scores for Live Activities via Apple TV.

Want to improve your cybersecurity?

We’ll teach you why protecting your identity and data is important. Plus, get recommendations for VPNs, Password Managers and Antivirus Software.

Read on for a step-by-step guide to the process of putting iOS 16.2 on your compatible iPhone. You can also check out some of the best existing features on iOS 16 and a few hidden features we were surprised to find. And if you recently got a new iPhone, here are the best iPhone 14 cases so far.

Now playing:Watch this:Testing iOS 16 (Edit/Delete Sent Messages, New Lock Screen…

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Before you start, is your iPhone even compatible?

Unfortunately, not every iPhone will receive the iOS 16.2 update. You need at least an iPhone 8, which was released back in 2017, to run iOS 16. That also includes the iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone SE (second generation and up) and the new iPhone 14.

Next, back up your iPhone

Getting your hands on new software can be exciting, but there are precautions you should take before updating. You may not be happy with some of the features that iOS 16.2 has to offer (although you can fix some of the most annoying ones), so you need to be able to downgrade back to an earlier version of iOS 16 for whatever reason — and that requires you to back up your iPhone before you update.

By default, your iPhone should back itself up every time it’s connected to power and Wi-Fi during your regular sleep hours. However, if this backup feature is disabled, you can go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Backup and then hit Back Up Now to back up your device.

Additionally, you can back up your iPhone via Finder on your Mac. Simply connect your device to your computer, open Finder, choose your device and then create a backup. Apple also recommends archiving your backup, so that it’s not overwritten by other backups.

Also, make sure to do these three things

You want the download and installation process to go as smoothly as possible, and the best way to do that is to do the following:

• Make sure your iPhone is connected to power. You won’t be able to download iOS 16.2 if you’re under 50% battery, so it’s best to just plug in your phone while you update. And even when you’re plugged in, the battery needs to be over 20%.
• Connect to Wi-Fi. You also won’t be able to download iOS 16.2 with cellular data, so connect to a stable Wi-Fi network.
• Clear up enough storage space. If you’re running out of storage, you’ll need to clear some up before you can download and install iOS 16.2. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to delete large files and apps.

Here’s a guide on how to get more iPhone storage.

How to download and install iOS 16.2

Now once you have all that set, open your iPhone and go to Settings > General > Software Update, wait a few seconds (or minutes) for the update to appear and then hit Download and Install for iOS 16.2.

You should then see a loading bar, along with a rough estimate of how long the download process will take. Once the download is complete, reboot your device and wait for iOS 16.2 to install. When your iPhone boots up, follow any prompts and you should then see iOS 16.2 downloaded on your device.

For more on the new OS, here’s a look at all the best new features that are available on iOS 16, as well as some of the cool hidden features you might not know about.

Morocco is in the World Cup semifinals. These are words I couldn’t imagine typing at the start of the tournament, but here we are. It’s the first ever African nation to make it this far in the tournament and has already taken some incredible scalps en route. Belgium, Spain and Portugal have all fallen by the wayside, but now Morocco takes on arguably the best team in the tournament, France.

France’s talented squad is strong throughout, but its greatest threat is Kylian Mbappé. At 23 years of age, he is the tournament’s current top scorer and is surely the best player on the planet right now. Mbappé already has one World Cup and is looking to give France back-to-back wins — a huge deal, since no one’s pulled it off since Brazil in 1962.

The France-Morocco game starts on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT). The winner will play Argentina in the World Cup Final on Sunday, Dec. 18. The loser will face Croatia in the third-place game on Saturday, Dec. 17.

The remaining matches of the 2022 World Cup will be shown nationwide in the US on Peacock and Fox, which is available on numerous live TV streaming services. Outside the US, World Cup matches are being carried by other streaming services, including the BBC and ITV in the UK, SBS in Australia and TSN in Canada. But what if you’re traveling outside your home country and want to enjoy the match, or just want an added layer of privacy for streaming? There is an option that doesn’t require searching the internet for a sketchy website: You can use a VPN, or virtual private network.

Here’s how you can watch the France-Morocco game, and the rest of the 2022 World Cup, from anywhere in the world with a VPN.

World Cup 2022: How to Stream Every Game in the US

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When is the France vs. Morocco match?

France plays Morocco at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on Wednesday, Dec. 14.

Elsewhere in the world, the match starts at 10 p.m. in Qatar, 7 p.m. in London, and on Thursday, Dec. 15 at 4 a.m. in Tokyo and 6 a.m. in Sydney.

How to watch the France vs. Morocco match online from anywhere using a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view the match locally, that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on match day by encrypting your traffic, plus it’s a great idea for when you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

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

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

Sarah Tew/CNET

ExpressVPN

Best VPN for streaming

ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 per month, and you can sign up for ExpressVPN and save 49% plus get three months of access for free — the equivalent of $6.67 per month — if you get an annual subscription.

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

See at ExpressVPN

Livestream the France vs. Morocco match in the US

The France-Morocco match is on Fox in the US, so you’ll need a live TV streaming service that carries Fox. The least expensive such service is Sling TV Blue.

Sling/CNET

Sling TV Blue

Carries Fox with every World Cup game in the US

Among the live TV streaming services that carry local Fox stations, the cheapest is Sling TV Blue at $40 per month. Note that Sling is currently running a promotion where the first month of service is half-price ($20) for new subscribers.

One important caveat: Fox local affiliates will only be available if your billing address is in one of the 18 metropolitan areas covered in Sling’s agreement. If you’re outside of one of these areas, you’re probably better off going with one of the alternate services listed below.

See at Sling TV

Numerous other live TV streaming services carry local Fox stations as well, namely YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, DirecTV Stream and FuboTV. They all cost more than Sling TV, but they also carry more channels. Check out our live TV streaming channel guide for details.

James Martin/CNET

Peacock

Carries every World Cup game in the US (Spanish only)

For Spanish-speaking US residents Peacock is airing all of the World Cup games live in Spanish. The remaining games will stream on its $5-a-month Peacock Premium subscription package, not the service’s free tier.

Read our Peacock review.

See at Peacock

Watch the France vs. Morocco match for free in the UK

BBC

Carries World Cup matches in the UK

Fans in the UK can watch every match of the 2022 World Cup for free. Games are split between two channels, the BBC and ITV; the France-Morocco match is on the BBC. If you’re away from home in the UK, you can use a VPN like ExpressVPN to watch BBC iPlayer or ITVX (formerly ITV Hub) from anywhere.

See at BBC

Stream the France vs. Morocco World Cup 2022 match in Australia

Aleksandra Aleshchenko/Getty Images

SBS On-Demand

Carries World Cup matches in Australia

Fans in Australia can stream all 64 World Cup matches live for free using SBS On Demand, the streaming home of the country’s free-to-air TV network. The service also offers full replays, mini-matches and highlights.

See at SBS

In addition to the services and countries listed above, numerous other local fixtures are carrying the World Cup 2022. They include:

• Argentina: TVP
• Belgium: RTBF (French) and VRT (Dutch)
• Brazil: TV Globo
• Canada: TSN
• France: TF1 and beIN Sports
• Germany: ARD and ZDF
• Hong Kong: PCCW
• Japan: Dentsu
• New Zealand: Sky
• Spain: RTVE

Quick tips for streaming the World Cup 2022 using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — experience and success may vary.
• If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
• If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
• And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.

Google is a lot more than just a search engine. Tons of people also use it as their primary email, calendar and cloud storage. And if you already use Google to help organize your life, it just makes sense to use a Google phone. Plus, you’ve got a few different Google phone options to choose from at the moment. But no matter what Pixel phone you decide works best for you, you can’t go wrong, as all of Google’s current phones have earned a spot on our list of the best phones overall for 2022.

The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro hit shelves back in October, and are the most advanced phones in Google’s lineup. However, there are plenty of other options if you don’t want to spend the money to upgrade to Google’s latest and greatest. The previous-generation Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are still great picks, with more than enough power for most people’s needs. And if you’re after the most affordable option, the budget-friendly Pixel 6A is our favorite Android phone under $500 right now. But no matter which model works best for your needs, there’s no reason to pay more than you have to. Below, you’ll find our roundup of all the best deals on all Pixel phones that you can shop for right now from both carriers and retailers.

If you’re having a hard time deciding which Pixel model is going to work best for you, be sure to check out our comparison of the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro to their previous-gen counterparts for a full breakdown of their specs and performance. If affordability is your top priority, you’ll probably want to opt for the budget-friendly Pixel 6A.

Pixel 7 and 7 Pro deals

The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro hit shelves back in October, and like most new phone releases, there’s a huge variety of offers available at carriers, as well as some discounts available through retailers.

Google

Google

Up to $150 off or free with qualifying trade-in

There are a few benefits that come with buying your Pixel 7 from Google directly. For one, all models and colors are in stock, so you don’t have to worry about getting your ideal configuration, and Google allows you to buy your phone outright, as opposed to an installment plan required by some retailers and carriers.

And at the moment, you can pick up a new Pixel at a discount. Google is offering $100 off the Pixel 7 and $150 off the Pixel 7 Pro with no strings attached. And if you have an older phone to trade in, you can pick up both the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro at significant discounts, possibly even free. Devices from Apple, Samsung or Google will score you the biggest discount, but Google is also accepting phones from other brands like Motorola and OnePlus

See at Google

Pixel 6A deals

CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco called Google’s affordable next-gen Pixel 6A the “best Android phone under $500.” It’s slightly smaller than the full-size Pixel 7, and features a 6.1-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of 60Hz. It’s equipped with 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM, which is slightly less than the standard Pixel 7 has, but is still more than sufficient for most people’s needs. It also boasts 5G capabilities and support for Wi-Fi 6 for lightning-fast browsing. It’s already a solid value at its usual price of $449, but we’ve rounded up some of the best deals and offers out there so you can pick one up for even less.

Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro deals

Since the release of the new Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, the Pixel 6 is no longer the most advanced series in Google’s lineup. However, these previous-gen flagship phones still have plenty to offer, and are a great choice if you’re looking for a compromise between Google’s latest and greatest phones, and its budget-friendly Pixel 6a. Since the release of the new phones, lots of carriers and retailers have shifted their best offers over to the Pixel 7 series, but there are still a few deals you can take advantage of to get a Pixel 6 in your hands for less.

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco announced a fascinating innovation on Monday. They call it “cellular glue” and say it could one day open doors to massive medical achievements, like building organs in a lab for transplantation and reconstructing nerves that’ve been damaged beyond the reach of standard surgical repair.

Basically, the team engineered a set of synthetic molecules that can be manipulated to coax cells within the human body to bond with one another. Together, these molecules constitute the so-called “cellular glue” and act like adhesive molecules naturally found in and around cells that involuntarily dictate the way our tissues, nerves and organs are structured and anchored together.

Only in this case scientists can voluntarily control them.

“The properties of a tissue, like your skin for example, are determined in large part by how the different cells are organized within it,” Adam Stevens, a researcher at UCSF’s Cell Design Institute and first author of a paper in the journal Nature, said in a statement. “We’re devising ways to control this organization of cells, which is central to being able to synthesize tissues with the properties we want them to have.”

Doctors could eventually use the sticky material as a viable mechanism to mend patients’ wounds, regrow nerves otherwise deemed destroyed and potentially even work toward regenerating diseased lungs, livers and other vital organs.

That last bit could lend a hand in alleviating the crisis of donor organs rapidly running out of supply. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, 17 people in the US die each day while on the waitlist for an organ transplant, yet every 10 minutes, another person is added to that list.

“Our work reveals a flexible molecular adhesion code that determines which cells will interact, and in what way,” Stevens said. “Now that we are starting to understand it, we can harness this code to direct how cells assemble into tissues and organs.”

Ikea cells

Right after babies are born (and even when they’re still in the womb) their cells essentially find it easy to reconnect with one another when a bond is lost. This is primarily because kids are still growing, so their cells are still actively coming together. But as a consequence, that’s also why their scratches and scrapes tend to heal quite quickly.

In other words, think of children’s cell molecules as having lots of clear-cut instructions on how to put themselves together to make tissues, organs and nerves. They’re like sentient little pieces of Ikea furniture with the store’s building booklet in hand.

As people get older, however, those biological Ikea instructions get put in the attic, the team explains. That’s because, for the most part, the body is pretty solidified — and this is sometimes a problem. For instance, when someone’s liver gets really damaged, their liver cell molecules may need to refer back to those Ikea instructions but can’t find them.

But that’s where “cellular glue” molecules come in. These rescuers can essentially be primed with those Ikea instructions before being sent into the body, so their blueprint is fresh. Scientists can load them up with information on which cell molecules to bond with and even how strongly to bond with them.

Then, these glue molecules can guide relevant cells toward one another, helping along the healing and regeneration processes.

“In a solid organ, like a lung or a liver, many of the cells will be bonded quite tightly,” explains a UCSF description of the new invention. “But in the immune system, weaker bonds enable the cells to flow through blood vessels or crawl between the tightly bound cells of skin or organ tissues to reach a pathogen or a wound.”

To make this kind of customization possible, the researchers added two important components to their cellular glue. First, part of the molecule acts as a receptor. It remains on the outside of the cell and determines which other cells the molecule is allowed to interact with. Second, there’s the bond-strength-tuner. This section exists within the cell. Mix and match those two traits and, the team says, you can create an array of cell adhesion molecules prepped to bond in various ways.

“We were able to engineer cells in a manner that allows us to control which cells they interact with, and also to control the nature of that interaction,” Wendell Lim, director of UCSF’s Cell Design Institute and senior author of the paper, said in a statement.

In fact, the team says the range of potential molecules is wide enough that they could inform the academic stage of medical studies, too. Researchers could make mock tissues, for example, to deepen understanding of the human body as a whole.

Or as Stevens put it, “These tools could be really transformative.”

Arguably the most compelling story at this year’s World Cup is still alive.

Lionel Messi, at 35 years of age, seeks to cement his legacy as the best soccer player to ever do it by taking the World Cup back to his home nation of Argentina. He’s already been one of the tournament’s best performers, scoring a handful of incredible get-out-of-jail goals and assists. Argentina fans will be hoping the best is yet to come.

Argentina’s semifinal opponent, Croatia, has been here before. This team made it all the way to the final in 2018, before being beaten by an Mbappé-inspired France. That team is older now, but still boasts one of the best midfields in the tournament, led by Real Madrid’s Luka Modrić, a former Ballon d’Or winner. Despite being 37 years old, he’s still one of the best players on the planet.

The Argentina-Croatia game starts on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT). The match will be shown nationwide in the US on Peacock and FS1, which is available on numerous live TV streaming services. Outside the US, World Cup matches are being carried by other streaming services, including the BBC and ITV in the UK, SBS in Australia and TSN in Canada. But what if you’re traveling outside your home country and want to enjoy the match, or just want an added layer of privacy for streaming? There is an option that doesn’t require searching the internet for a sketchy website: You can use a VPN, or virtual private network.

Here’s how you can watch the game, and the rest of the 2022 World Cup, from anywhere in the world with a VPN.

World Cup 2022: How to Stream Every Game in the US

See at Read More

When is the Argentina vs. Croatia match?

Argentina plays Croatia at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. ET) on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Elsewhere in the world, the match starts at 10 p.m. in Qatar, 7 p.m. in London, and on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 4 a.m. in Tokyo and 6 a.m. in Sydney.

How to watch the Argentina vs. Croatia match online from anywhere using a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view the match locally, that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on match day by encrypting your traffic, plus it’s a great idea for when you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

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

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

Sarah Tew/CNET

ExpressVPN

Best VPN for streaming

ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 per month, and you can sign up for ExpressVPN and save 49% plus get three months of access for free — the equivalent of $6.67 per month — if you get an annual subscription.

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

See at ExpressVPN

Livestream the Argentina vs. Croatia match in the United States

The Argentina-Croatia match is on FS1 in the US, so you’ll need a live TV streaming service that carries FS1. The least expensive such service is Sling TV Blue.

Sling/CNET

Sling TV Blue

Carries FS1 and Fox with every World Cup game in the US

Among the live TV streaming services that carry local Fox stations and FS1, the cheapest is Sling TV Blue at $40 per month. Note that Sling is currently running a promotion where the first month of service is half-price ($20) for new subscribers.

One important caveat: While FS1 is available everywhere in the US on Sling TV, Fox local affiliates will only be available if your billing address is in one of the 18 metropolitan areas covered in Sling’s agreement. If you’re outside of one of these areas, you’re probably better off going with one of the alternate services listed below.

See at Sling TV

Numerous other live TV streaming services carry FS1 and local Fox stations as well, namely YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, DirecTV Stream and FuboTV. They all cost more than Sling TV, but they also carry more channels. Check out our live TV streaming channel guide for details.

James Martin/CNET

Peacock

Carries every World Cup game in the US (Spanish only)

For Spanish-speaking US residents Peacock is airing all of the World Cup games live in Spanish. The remaining games will stream on its $5-a-month Peacock Premium subscription package, not the service’s free tier.

Read our Peacock review.

See at Peacock

Watch the Argentina vs. Croatia match for free in the UK

ITV

Carries World Cup matches in the UK

Fans in the UK can watch every match of the 2022 World Cup for free. Games are split between two channels, the BBC and ITV; the Argentina-Croatia match is on ITV. If you’re away from home in the UK, you can use a VPN like ExpressVPN to watch ITVX (formerly ITV Hub), the streaming service for ITV, from anywhere.

See at ITVX

Stream the Argentina vs. Croatia World Cup 2022 match in Australia

Aleksandra Aleshchenko/Getty Images

SBS On-Demand

Carries World Cup matches in Australia

Fans in Australia can stream all 64 World Cup matches live for free using SBS On Demand, the streaming home of the country’s free-to-air TV network. The service also offers full replays, mini-matches and highlights.

See at SBS

In addition to the services and countries listed above, numerous other local fixtures are carrying the World Cup 2022. They include:

• Argentina: TVP
• Belgium: RTBF (French) and VRT (Dutch)
• Brazil: TV Globo
• Canada: TSN
• France: TF1 and beIN Sports
• Germany: ARD and ZDF
• Hong Kong: PCCW
• Japan: Dentsu
• New Zealand: Sky
• Spain: RTVE

Quick tips for streaming the World Cup 2022 using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — experience and success may vary.
• If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
• If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
• And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.

Bose headphones and earbuds have always skewed toward the more premium end of the price spectrum and the company’s QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are no exception, carrying a hefty list price of $299 ( 279, $AU429), or $20 more than the original QuietComfort Earbuds. While that will put them outside a lot of people’s budget for wireless earbuds, their design and voice-calling performance are significantly improved from the originals, and they deliver excellent sound and outstanding noise canceling — arguably the best out there right now. They’re easily among our top current earbuds, and a CNET Editors’ Choice Award winner.

That award came a few months after the release of the QuietComfort Earbuds 2 after some internal debate — most notably the earbuds’ missing support for the AptX Adaptive audio codec that’s compatible with many Android phones and some other devices. But Bose has since announced that AptX support will be added in the spring of 2023. “The QuietComfort Earbuds 2 will support the AptX Adaptive codec for audio streaming, including Lossless and low-latency capabilities,” Bose told CNET, “and enable more seamless and robust connectivity with premium Android devices.”

I’ll save that value debate for the end of the review after I go through all QuietComfort Earbuds 2’s strengths (or QuietComfort Earbuds II, as Bose calls them), along with a few weaknesses. But if you can afford them, these are certainly strong competitors against Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 and Sony’s WF-1000XM4, the latter of which have been out for a while and are being aggressively discounted at times.

Read more: Best Wireless Earbuds for 2022

8.8

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2

$299 at Bose

$279 at Amazon

$279 at Best Buy

You’re receiving price alerts for Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2

Like

• Excellent sound and best-in-class noise canceling
• Significantly smaller than their predecessors
• New Fit Kit ear tips and stabilizer system gets you a secure, comfortable fit
• Improved voice calling with better noise reduction

Don’t Like

• Pricey
• No wireless charging
• No multipoint Bluetooth pairing
• AptX support not coming until spring 2023

Initially the buds were only available in black — or “Triple Black,” as Bose calls it, but you can now also get the in the lighter soapstone color (basically off-white) and it’s possible Bose releases other special-edition colors in the future.

More importantly, the earbuds are about 30% smaller than their predecessors. Their case is about 40% smaller and truly pocketable (though it’s still about 25% to 30% bigger than the AirPods Pro 2’s case). The smaller size corrects a big downside of the original QuietComfort Earbuds, which featured excellent noise canceling and very good sound quality, but were pretty hefty and protruded from your ears. The new buds each weigh a little less than 0.25 ounces, or 7 grams, according to Bose — still not svelte but significantly smaller.

The other big change is to the ear tips. Bose has ditched its one-piece StayEar wing tips for a two-piece Fit Kit system that features separate ear tips and “stability bands” in three size options. That’s supposed to give users more flexibility to get a secure fit and tight seal. I liked the StayEar wing tips, but after trying the new two-piece system, I’m sold on it. I ended up going with the large tips and medium stability band, and that really locked the buds in my ears. I can’t tell you that this will fit everyone’s ears equally well, but if you’re someone who can’t get a secure fit with the AirPods Pro 2, which are lighter and quite comfortable to wear, this new two-piece Fit Kit may be a reason to give the Bose a go over the new AirPods Pro.

A handful of new premium earbuds feature a kind of auto custom tune feature that takes into account the shape of your ears — and ear canal. Following that trend, Bose has developed a new CustomTune sound calibration system that aims to optimize noise canceling and sound quality for your particular ears. Every time you place the buds in your ears, a proprietary tone is played and a microphone measures your ear canal’s acoustic response. It takes about half a second or so and you definitely notice that the noise canceling has undergone some optimization.

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While the design improvements are a nice step forward, the QuietComfort Earbuds 2 really shine on the noise canceling front. It’s really impressive just how much the sound around you is muffled. Bose says it’s targeted frequencies that were previously difficult to reduce in the mid and high range, like the voices of nearby co-workers, screaming babies and family distractions in your home office. I used the buds in my home next to a relatively loud HVAC unit, and the noise canceling basically silenced it completely.

But I was more impressed with how much sound it reduced when I walked the streets and rode the subway in New York City. You can still hear people’s voices, but they seem to be muffled by about 60% and maybe even slightly more. It’s a little startling when you take the buds out of your ears or put them into transparency mode — Bose calls it Aware mode — and realize how much sound is being filtered out.

And yes, that transparency mode is also improved — it does sound more natural and lifelike. The best transparency modes, like that of the AirPods Pro, make it seem as if you’re not wearing earbuds and can hear the world as it would sound without earbuds in your ears. These do a good job of getting you close to that sensation.

While the drivers appear to be the same or very similar to those found in the original QuietComfort Earbuds, Bose reps told me that thanks to the CustomTune technology, the sound is noticeably improved, with more “nuance, clarity, depth” and better accuracy. And that’s pretty much what you’ll hear if you were to compare these to the originals. Everything is a little more clear and natural sounding. Their predecessors also had relatively big sound — and by that I mean they have a pretty wide soundstage. But the bass has a bit more definition and punch, and there’s a bit more detail and separation between instruments so you can hear them more distinctly. I also thought they had just the right amount of warmth, particularly with both men’s and women’s vocals. Their tonal balance is overall very good.

While software and advanced algorithms play a big part in the QuietComfort Earbuds 2’s performance, they feature four microphones in each bud, two of which are beam-forming microphones to focus on picking up your voice. Voice-calling performance was a weak point in the original QuietComfort Earbuds and Bose has clearly made an effort to improve it with better noise reduction — and voice pickup — during calls. I think it’s significantly better now (you can hear a sample call in my companion video review).

As for battery life, it’s rated at 6 hours with noise canceling on — that’s the same as the new AirPods Pro 2 — and you get about three extra charges from the new trimmed-down charging case, which features USB-C charging but not wireless charging. That latter shortfall is a bit unfortunate since most earbuds in this price range, including the AirPods Pro 2, feature wireless charging.

Like their predecessors, the QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are splash-proof with an IPX4 rating. They also have similar touch controls with a swipe gesture for volume control that I like. I thought the touch controls worked well, and they are slightly customizable in the companion app for iOS and Android (you have the option to select certain “shortcuts”).

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As for Bluetooth flavors, these are equipped with Bluetooth 5.3. They use the AAC and SBC audio codecs but currently have no support for Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive audio codec or multipoint Bluetooth pairing (I manually switched between an iPhone 13 Pro and a Galaxy Z Flip 4). In theory, you may be able to get slightly better audio quality if you use a device like an Android phone that supports aptX Adaptive and wirelessly stream high-resolution music files using services like Tidal, Amazon Music and Qobuz that deliver high-resolution music.

I was disappointed by that, particularly by the lack of multipoint Bluetooth pairing. But there’s some hope that may change in the future. That’s because a Bose rep told me these earbuds are equipped with a 5 Series Qualcomm chip. That chip supports multipoint Bluetooth pairing and has aptX support, which Bose now says is coming in 2023, so I think there’s a decent chance we’ll see multipoint Bluetooth pairing added in the future and perhaps other features. Bose didn’t mention anything about Bluetooth Audio LE and Auracast, a new Bluetooth audio broadcasting technology that’s coming to earbuds and headphones, but some new earbuds like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Proare listed as being “ready” for LE Audio.

It’s worth noting that while the noise canceling is of the adaptive variety, you can adjust its levels between three settings. Also, the earbuds have adjustable equalizer settings so you can tweak the sound profile. And finally, you can use a single bud independently and leave the other one in the charging case though certain touch controls are available only on the right bud.

Bose vs. Sony, Beats and AirPods Pro

I’ll finish by saying that I did compare these to some other top earbuds, including Sony’s WF-1000XM4, which were released in June 2021 and list for $20 less. The XM4s are still excellent, but these QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have surpassed the Sony buds not only in terms of sound quality and noise canceling but voice calling and fit as well. The Bose buds are superior.

I also like the Beats Fit Pro ($200) for both everyday use and as sports earbuds (they also stay in my ears very securely). They’re probably the better value, particularly as we’re starting to see regular discounts on them. But the Bose offer better overall performance along with a comfortable, secure fit in comparably sized earbuds.

Apple’s AirPods Pro 2, which also earned a CNET Editors’ Choice Award, are lighter and smaller and deliver impressive overall performance in a smaller package (that includes the charging case, which does feature wireless charging). But if you’re someone who can’t get a really secure fit from the AirPods Pro — or are an Android user — these are a compelling alternative. That said, the performance improvements to the AirPods Pro 2 make them a pretty safe and enticing choice for iPhone users for $50 less than the Bose. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider the QuietComfort Earbuds 2 if you’re an iOS user, but the AirPods Pro have their own set of advantages for iOS users, including spatial audio, automatic switching between your Apple devices on your iCloud account and hands-free Siri.

The same can be said for Samsung’s excellent Galaxy Buds 2 Pro buds and Samsung Galaxy device owners. Those buds have certain features that only Galaxy owners can take advantage of, including high-resolution audio over Bluetooth if you have the right setup.

But again, the QuietComfort Earbuds 2 may offer a better fit for you, and I do think they sound a touch better than both the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and Pixel Buds Pro and have better noise canceling. If you can get a tight seal with these buds, the noise canceling is really impressive. As I said, probably the best out there right now. And ultimately, that’s the reason why they may be worth $300 to some people.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 key features, per Bose

• 30% smaller buds and 40% smaller case [compared to previous model]
• New CustomTune technology for optimizing sound and noise canceling
• Improved sound, noise canceling and voice-calling performance
• Touch controls with swipe gestures for volume control
• New two-piece Fit Kit system that features separate ear tips and stability bands in three size options
• Four microphones on each earbuds, two of which are beamforming for voice calls
• 6 hours of battery life with noise cancellation on
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Support for AAC and SBC audio codecs (aptX support coming in 2023)
• Customizable EQ settings
• Price: $299 ( 279, AU$429)
• Colors: triple black ships first, with soapstone to follow later in the year

Editor’s note: This review was originally published on Sept. 15, 2022 and updated in December to reaffirm our continued positive experience with the headphones and add an Editors’ Choice designation.