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  • These Noise-Canceling Bose Earbuds Are Back Down to an All-Time Low of $199

    These Noise-Canceling Bose Earbuds Are Back Down to an All-Time Low of $199

    Whether you need to focus in a crowded home or you have a long commute, having a pair of earbuds with active noise cancellation is a good idea for anyone. Not only does it help to quiet background noise, but it also means you can listen to your music, podcasts, shows or whenever you like without disruption.

    If you’re looking to invest in a pair, consider Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2. These earbuds won an Editors’ Choice Award last year and according to CNET’s David Carnoy, offer “excellent sound and best-in-class noise canceling.” These have since been upstaged by the newer, improved Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds — but those sport a $299 price tag. The QC Earbuds 2 are still an excellent choice for most people and right now Amazon has slashed the price ahead of Black Friday, bringing a pair back down to just $199. That’s an $80 savings and back down to the lowest price we’ve seen.

    All three color variants of the Bose QC Earbuds 2 are on sale including in triple black, soapstone and eclipse grey. These buds have a few similar features to their predecessors, but use them in a slightly more efficient way. For example, while they have similar drivers, Bose has used its CustomTune technology to improve audio fidelity. They also have much more depth and nuance than the previous version, and things generally sound clearer and more natural. There’s also a great warm sound to voices, which also helps when it comes to making phone calls, and the four mics, two of which are beamforming, help pick up your voice so that those at the other end can hear you perfectly.

    The impressive thing about the QC Earbuds 2 is the active noise cancellation (ANC), with a particular emphasis on the previously hard-to-silence mid and high frequencies. In fact, you’ll find that it blocks out well over half the amount of noise you’d find in your average busy city street. Even transparency mode has gotten an upgrade, with things sounding much more natural, so it doesn’t even feel as if you’re wearing them.

    As for battery life, you can expect around six hours with ANC activated and another 18 hours or so from the case, for a total of 24 hours of coverage. The only downside is that the QC Earbuds 2 case doesn’t have wireless charging, so you’ll have to connect it to a USB-C cable. We don’t know how long this offer will last, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later to score a pair at this price. Be sure to check out other Amazon Black Friday deals happening now for even more savings.

  • iOS 17 Can Give You Daily Crossword Puzzles in the News App

    iOS 17 Can Give You Daily Crossword Puzzles in the News App

    If you enjoy a new crossword puzzle with your morning coffee or on your lunch break, then you might like one of iOS 17‘s new features. When Apple released iOS 17 on Sept. 18, the company gave iPhone users many new and fun features, like StandBy mode and Live Stickers. And crossword puzzles in the News app are among those new features.

    To access these puzzles, you need an Apple News Plus subscription, which costs $13 a month. However, you can try Apple News Plus for one month for free, or you can get the service for free for three months when you buy an iPhone, iPad or Mac. An Apple News Plus subscription is also part of the Apple One Premier bundle, which costs $38 a month and includes other services like Apple TV Plus and Apple Arcade.

    Here’s how you can access daily crossword puzzles as an Apple News Plus subscriber.

    Play crossword puzzles in Apple News

    1. Open the Apple News app.
    2. Tap Following in the menu across the bottom of your screen.
    3. Tap Puzzles.

    Apple News Plus puzzles page

    You can also access crossword puzzles by going to Apple News > Today > Latest Puzzles — this option was pretty far down my Today page.

    From the puzzles page, you can find the latest crosswords from the week. Across the top of the page, you’ll also see options for Crossword and Crossword Mini, which are smaller crossword puzzles arranged in a 5×5 grid. Tap either of these options, and the app takes you to the latest puzzles for either choice.

    How to play the puzzles

    Once you’ve decided on which puzzle to play, there are two ways you can solve them: grid view and list view. By default you’ll enter grid view which is a traditional crossword puzzle layout. You see the whole grid, and if you tap a square you’ll see a clue below the puzzle. You can also switch between vertical and horizontal clues by tapping a square a second time or tapping the clue.

    List view, on the other hand, eschews the traditional grid of a crossword puzzle and shows you all the clues and how many letters are in each answer in a list format. To access list view, tap the bulleted list icon in the top left corner of your screen when you are in a puzzle. As you enter letters in list view, letters in other clues begin populating where the clues intersect on the grid. I still think list view sounds tough, but I’m also not very good at crossword puzzles to start with.

    How many puzzles are there?

    There are two new puzzles every day, a crossword and a crossword mini. It appears the puzzles are accessible for about a month after they are published, so you have access to a small archive of crosswords you can play. This is also a new feature, so the number of available puzzles could change.

    For more on iOS 17, check out my review of iOS 17 and our iOS 17 cheat sheet.

  • MoviePass Adds Online Ticketing Support by Introducing a Virtual Card

    MoviePass Adds Online Ticketing Support by Introducing a Virtual Card

    MoviePass just brought back its signature physical credit card when it relaunched its movie theater subscription service in May, but it’s now ready to go virtual. The movie subscription service on Wednesday announced a new virtual card that will support online ticketing, along with other updates that include access to premium movie formats like Imax screenings.

    MoviePass CEO Stacy Spikes told CNET that the virtual cards will soon start showing up within its app, and customers can either choose to buy a ticket in person, as MoviePass has traditionally worked, or can copy the card information into any movie ticketing website to buy a ticket in advance.

    The process to buy a movie ticket using MoviePass is otherwise largely the same as before. You select a showtime in the MoviePass app, and then use the MoviePass card to purchase that ticket whether in person or using the website. The card is used in conjunction with a credits system that MoviePass now uses, in which each showtime is worth a varying number of credits — less popular showtimes like weekdays and matinees cost less than popular times like weekend evening showtimes. When buying an online ticket you’ll see a slightly higher point cost to accommodate online convenience fees.

    MoviePass app and card

    Spikes said that MoviePass subscribers with physical cards will still be able to use them, and new customers will still get the option to receive a physical card if they would like. MoviePass plans to eventually sunset physical cards entirely, but will be using a hybrid approach for theaters that do not yet support contactless payments over a phone.

    “Part of it has to do with when you put the card into the app. A lot of the kiosks don’t have the capability to use Apple Pay, so you still have to use the magnetic strip if you want to do it on location,” Spikes said. “So we just don’t know the timing [on when theaters are] going to update their kiosks, so we’re flexible on what I would call a complete phase-out.”

    MoviePass is also adding the ability to buy tickets to shows in premium formats like Imax and Dolby Cinema, which will start appearing in the app in December. These showtimes will also have slightly higher credit values to accommodate the increased ticket prices. For further flexibility towards these more expensive offerings, MoviePass customers will be able to buy packs of additional points.

    MoviePass is also launching gift subscriptions, which are helped by the introduction of the virtual card, and early next year plans to launch a “Bring a Friend” feature for buying multiple tickets to a single showtime.

    Spikes said that MoviePass has continued to beef up its customer support teams since its relaunch, which was a sore spot during the service’s initial months. He said that many of the issues customers experienced were to do with timing issues with in-person ticket purchases, and expects the online ticketing support will help alleviate that issue.

    MoviePass is also in development on an optional advertising program called PreShow, in which facial recognition is used to determine if a subscriber has watched an ad in exchange for additional credits. Spikes said the program may arrive as soon as summer next year.

    “We do have the basics of it built out, but we want to push it and start testing it probably after we get past Oscar season,” Spikes said. “So somewhere between there and the summer, [we’ll] begin testing it, and we’re starting to have conversations with potential advertisers and brands.”

    MoviePass is available in the US, and pricing varies by region, as does the value of the credits you get. I found during my hands-on with MoviePass that pricing in the New York area starts at $20 per month for 68 credits (estimated at one to three films) up to a $60 per month plan for 1,240 credits (effectively unlimited). Outside of New York and southern California, a $10 plan is available. MoviePass now largely competes against subscription offerings offered by the theater companies themselves, including AMC’s A-List, Regal Unlimited and Alamo Drafthouse’s Season Pass.

  • This Limited-Time Woot Blowout Sale Is a Must-Shop for Apple Fans

    This Limited-Time Woot Blowout Sale Is a Must-Shop for Apple Fans

    Savings on Apple gear tend to be rare, but Black Friday is the time to be shopping if you want discounts on Apple-branded tech. Though the main event is still over a week away, you don’t have to wait to start stocking up on official Apple accessories with a huge Woot sale on first-party Apple products. The sale features everything from iPhone cases and chargers to discounts on the Apple Watch itself. It’s a must-shop for those seeking Apple Black Friday deals this fall.

    One standout deal in this sale is the Apple Watch Series 6 for just $200. While this is an older model — the Series 9 is the current-gen — the Apple Watch didn’t change in dramatic was from Series 6 through 8 meaning that this is still a solid smartwatch in 2023. If you’re new to the platform, want a cheap fitness tracker or a first smartwatch for a youngster, you can do much worse than the Apple Watch Series 6 at this sort of price point.

    If you already own an Apple Watch, there is a plethora of discounted bands in this sale including premium options like the Milanese Loop from $37, Leather Link from $50 and the stainless steel Link Bracelet for $180. These are all around half off the usual Apple price and they are all offered brand new with support for various Apple Watch generations.

    On the iPhone side, you can use this sale to stock up on cables, speedy wall chargers or MagSafe-equipped travel chargers. There are MagSafe wallets too as well as leather and silicone cases for iPhone XS through iPhone 14 with prices from $10. Add discounted iPad cases and $120 off Beats Powerbeats Pro earbuds to that list and you got a sale that caters for pretty much every Apple user.

    The sale is slated to run through Nov. 30, though supplies are limited and it’s likely that many items will sell out before that date.

  • Cricket World Cup 2023 Semifinal Livestream: How to Watch India vs. New Zealand From Anywhere

    Cricket World Cup 2023 Semifinal Livestream: How to Watch India vs. New Zealand From Anywhere

    New Zealand will have to pull off a shock result to reach a third successive final as they take on hosts and tournament favorites India in this first semifinal of the Cricket World Cup.

    Kane Williamson’s Black Caps claimed their place in the last four after defeating Sri Lanka by five wickets, a result that saw them edge out Pakistan for a semifinal spot.

    India’s superb form, which has seen them win all nine matches in the group stage, combined with their home advantage, sees them marked out as the clear favorite with the bookies to win the tournament outright. However, they now come up against the side they lost to at this stage of the tournament four years ago.

    Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch every match of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, no matter where you are in the world.

    India cricketer Virat Kohli grasping a bat with both hands, leaning back to take a shot.

    India vs. New Zealand: When and where?

    India take on New Zealand at Wankhede Stadiumin Mumbai, India, on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Play is set to start at 2 p.m. IST local time in India. (That’s 8:30 a.m. GMT in the UK, 7:30 p.m. AEDT in Australia, and 3:30 a.m. ET or 12:30 a.m. PT in the US.)

    How to watch the 2023 Cricket World Cup online from anywhere using a VPN

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

    With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

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

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

    Livestream India vs. New Zealand in the US

    World Cup 2023 matches are available to watch live on both ESPN Plus and dedicated cricket streaming service Willow TV.

    Stream India vs. New Zealand in India for free

    Free live coverage of the 2023 Cricket World Cup in the host nation will be available to watch on mobile devices via the Hotstar app.

    Those looking to catch all the action on a device with a larger display will need to sign up for pay TV service Star Sports or Disney Plus Hotstar.

    Watch India vs. New Zealand in the UK

    All matches of the Cricket World Cup are being shown live in the UK by Sky and its dedicated Sky Sports Cricket channel. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the first Test via its Sky Go app, but cord-cutters will want to get set up with a Now account, and a Now Sports membership, to stream the match.

    Stream India vs. New Zealand in Australia

    Pay-TV network Foxtel and its streaming platform Kayo is showing every match of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, including India vs. New Zealand.

    Stream India vs. New Zealand for free in New Zealand

    Pay TV broadcaster Sky Sport has broadcast rights to show every 2023 Cricket World Cup game live in New Zealand.

    Quick tips for streaming the 2023 Cricket World Cup using a VPN

    • With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming the Cricket World Cup action live 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.
  • This Turntable Is the Perfect Pick for a Beginner Collector

    This Turntable Is the Perfect Pick for a Beginner Collector

    I love music, and though modern music streaming allows me to have any album or song I could possibly think of, right in the palm of my digital hand, there’s something so special about playing physical copies of my favorite songs. Long before I ever had a means to play them, I collected vinyl records, CDs and cassette tapes. Then in high school, I scrimped and saved so I could buy a small suitcase record player, which I basically lived in front of for several years… until it broke.

    Over time, I’d become more involved and educated in the world of vinyl record care and collecting, so I was much more discriminating when I went to upgrade my turntable. I wanted something that was in my budget, was (sort of) portable, delivered high-quality sound and kept my records in good condition. Enter Audio-Technica’s AT-LP60XBT.

    This entry-level turntable delivered on everything I needed. It’ll set you back $219, which is more expensive than suitcase record players, but for a high-quality turntable, it’s a pretty reasonable price. The AT-LP60XBT is easy to move — mine has withstood four moves over the last three years, and all the shuffling hasn’t compromised its quality.

    Most important, it delivers great sound, and keeps my records nice and safe. I take comfort in knowing that I can spin my favorite LPs and I won’t have to worry about my turntable inflicting damage on my records.

    The AT-LP60XBT is Bluetooth capable, so all you’ll need is a solid bluetooth speaker, and you’ll be set. Though the turntable doesn’t come with speakers, you can purchase a speaker and turntable bundle on Amazon. I was in college when I bought my turntable, and I purchased the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 (which has been discontinued, but the Wonderboom 3 will do the trick just the same).

    If you’re looking for a solid starter turntable to fire up your collection, the AT-LP60XBT is a pretty perfect choice.

  • The Savings Just Keep Coming During the Adidas Early Black Friday Sale

    The Savings Just Keep Coming During the Adidas Early Black Friday Sale

    As Black Friday approaches, many retailers are offering a taste of what’s to come to their consumers. Right now, Adidas is getting in on the action with a handful of deals and discounts of its own. Adidas has everything you need to up your style game this season. You can find cozy loungewear, fantastic workout gear and even a few pieces for those fancier outings. So if you’re about that 3-Stripe life then this one is for you.

    Looking for more discounts? CNET has the best deals from Adidas and many others, along with promo code offers — all updated and verified daily.

    Welcome to CNET Coupons, the first stop before you shop, featuring a multitude of deals and discounts from top online retailers. Simply head over to our coupon page and type in your favorite store or brands to find all the deals available for the week.

  • No iOS 17 Update on Your iPhone? Here’s Why

    No iOS 17 Update on Your iPhone? Here’s Why

    Apple’s iOS 17 software has been available to most iPhones since Sept. 18, but some people never got the update. That’s because some older iPhone models were left out of the newest software upgrade, including those from 2017 or before. If that’s you, you won’t be able to try out the new features in iOS 17 unless you buy a supported iPhone.

    Read more: iOS 17 Is Filled With Delightful Features, Intuitive Improvements and More

    If you aren’t sure which iPhone you’ve got, a quick check in your settings can show you. Open your Settings app and tap General > About. Next to Model Name, you’ll see which iPhone you have.

    We’ll show you how to find out whether your iPhone is compatible with iOS 17. Also, check out our list of the best iPhones to compare and see if there’s a newer model that might work for you.

    Go Inside the Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro: See How the New iPhones Look and Work

    See all photos

    Which iPhones are compatible with iOS 17?

    If you’ve got one of these iPhones, you should now have access to iOS 17, Apple said.

    Which iPhone models won’t run the new iOS 17?

    With the release of iOS 17, there are three more iPhone models that won’t run Apple’s latest mobile operating system: iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X. Apple stopped providing feature upgrades for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 7 series with the release of iOS 16 last year. Those phones still run iOS 15.

    What if your iPhone isn’t on the iOS 17 compatibility list?

    If your iPhone isn’t listed above, it won’t support iOS 17, and you won’t get a notification to download the newest software. For instance, if you have an iPhone X or iPhone 8, the latest software you’ll ever be able to use on that phone is iOS 16.

    Although older iPhones won’t support the latest version of iOS or get any of the new features, they should still be functional for a while. They will also continue to receive security updates for iOS 16. Apple released the latest security update for iOS 15 in July 2023 and will continue to release iOS 16 security updates in the near future.

  • Walmart Black Friday Deals: Early Deals on Tech, Home Goods, Toys and More

    Walmart Black Friday Deals: Early Deals on Tech, Home Goods, Toys and More

    Yes, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, but Black Friday sales are already well underway. Retail giant Walmart kicked off its Black Friday sale last week, and with it, we’re seeing bargain pricing on everything from tech to fashion to toys and more.

    Need to refresh your towels before guests arrive or looking for a slow cooker in time for the holidays? Walmart has plenty of home items on sale to help you prep for company, not to mention a huge array of deals on items perfect for holiday gift giving. Because Walmart really does have a little bit of everything, we’ve combed through its Black Friday deals to help you find the best deals we’re seeing and rounded them up for you below. We’re keeping this page updated, too, so check back because Walmart is releasing new deals on the regular.

    Walmart Black Friday tech deals

    Walmart Black Friday home deals

    Walmart Black Friday toy deals

    Walmart Black Friday fashion and beauty deals

    black-friday-walmart-deals.png

    When is Walmart’s Black Friday sale?

    Walmart’s online Black Friday sale officially kicked off on Nov. 8. Plus members got access a few hours early, but the sale is currently open to everybody. Many of the in-store deals kicked off Nov. 10 with no set expiration for the sale at the moment, but it’s likely that it will roll into Cyber Monday, which falls on Nov. 27 this year.

    Are Walmart Black Friday deals available in store?

    Yes, Walmart will be offering in-store savings for Black Friday, though they kicked off 6 a.m. (local time) on Nov. 10. It’s worth noting, however, that there are some deals that will be available only online, so be sure to double-check before you rush down to your nearest branch.

  • Best Black Friday TV Deals: Save Hundreds on TVs From LG, Samsung, Sony and More

    Best Black Friday TV Deals: Save Hundreds on TVs From LG, Samsung, Sony and More

    As the weather turns cold, many of us may spend extra time in front of the TV, catching up on the latest shows and blockbusters. But investing in the right TV can significantly alter how you experience your favorite content and how convenient it is to find something to watch. For those with older model TVs or a screen that’s just too small, it may be a good time to upgrade the entertainment hub.

    With Black Friday less than two weeks away, numerous retailers are slashing prices on TVs from a wide variety of brands. Regardless of what size or style you’re looking for, now is a great time to find price cuts on a screen you’ll love. We’ve searched the web to find the best Black Friday deals currently available on several major TV brands and have highlighted them below. We expect to see even more offers arrive as we get closer to the big day, so be sure to check back for updates on new deals and discounts.

    Black Friday TV deals

    TVs from LG, Sony and Amazon are displayed against a periwinkle-gray background.

    Is Black Friday a good time to buy a TV?

    If you’re looking for a solid deal on a TV, you’ll find plenty of opportunities throughout the year. That said, major shopping events like Prime Day, Black Friday and other seasonal sales are probably going to give you the best value for your investment.

    What sort of TV should I buy?

    When it comes to TVs, a few key factors should be considered: size, resolution and budget. We tend to recommend sizing up to the larger screens when you can, as a big picture will make a more noticeable difference than image quality will, generally speaking. If you’re looking for the best picture quality with the highest contrast you can get, however, OLED or mini-LED TVs are your best bet. With the popularity of streaming services continuing to surge, considering a smart TV with a built-in platform may be a good idea — though you can always purchase a streaming device of your choosing later.

    Where is the best place to buy a TV on Black Friday?

    You’ll find major discounts on TVs across several retailers during Black Friday. In fact, Amazon’s Black Friday sale has already discounted a multitude of Fire TVs ahead of the big day, and you can find numerous deals on a wide variety of TVs at both Walmart’s Black Friday sale and Best Buy’s Black Friday sale, among others. We expect even more deals to drop as we get closer to the big day. While you’ll find plenty of in-store doorbuster deals on TVs, we often find that shopping online allows you a chance to compare specs and prices across various models so that you can find the right fit for you. Plus, the convenience of having a TV shipped right to your door is hard to beat.