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  • How to Easily Share AirTags With iOS 17

    How to Easily Share AirTags With iOS 17

    When Apple released iOS 17 on Sept. 18, it introduced a lot of new features and improvements to your iPhone, like Live Stickers and offline maps. One of the more helpful new features Apple introduced in iOS 17 is the ability to share AirTags with up to five people. That means you can share AirTags for communal items, like luggage, so more people can track and help you find items if they are lost.

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    Apple released AirTags in 2021 as a way to help people keep track of their valuable items, like your keys when your couch eats them. However, AirTags could be attached to only one user at a time. Until now, you couldn’t lend someone an AirTag to borrow, and if you traveled with someone who had an AirTag, you would be notified that you’re traveling with an unidentified AirTag. But that changed with iOS 17.

    Here’s how to share AirTags so more people can easily find your valuable items.

    How to share AirTags

    1. Open the Find My app.
    2. Tap Items across the bottom of your screen.
    3. Tap the AirTag you want to share with others.
    4. Tap Add Person under Share This AirTag.

    Splash screen that reads Share This AirTag

    Your iPhone will show you a prompt that says once you’ve shared an AirTag, the people you’ve shared it with will be able to locate it and those same people will also not receive unidentified tracking notifications. Tap Continue and then you’ll be able to choose who to share the AirTag with.

    Once you’ve shared the AirTag, the other person will receive a notification to add it. All they need to do is tap the notification’s Add button, which adds the tag to their Find My app.

    If you’re going through this process and receive a notification for a shared AirTag you don’t recognize, there’s an option to tap Don’t Add.

    How to stop sharing AirTags

    If you lent your AirTag to a family member or friend to use and they return it, you can stop sharing your AirTag with them. Here’s how.

    1. Open the Find My app.
    2. Tap Items across the bottom of your screen.
    3. Tap the AirTag you want to stop sharing.
    4. Tap the name of the person you want to stop sharing the AirTag with.
    5. Tap Remove.

    Your iPhone will show another prompt saying that the person won’t be able to locate your item and they will instead receive unidentified tracking notifications. Tap Stop Sharing and you’re set.

    For more, here’s my review of iOS 17, the iOS 17 cheat sheet and how to download iOS 17.

    17 Hidden iOS 17 Features and Settings on Your iPhone

    See all photos

  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons Is The Cozy Game I Needed This Year

    Animal Crossing: New Horizons Is The Cozy Game I Needed This Year

    I graduated from college and started my first adult job this year, and it would be a bald-faced lie to say the transition was anything less than wildly confusing. I was not only leaving the familiarity of the academic environment I’d been in for 18 years but I was also reaching ever-elusive adult freedom.

    But that freedom took me from busy evenings filled with studying and nights out with my friends to… boredom. I wasn’t used to having this much time to myself. There was no homework to be done and no exams to cram for, just free time. So since I was making enough money to finance what for me was a large purchase, and I had newfound free time to enjoy, I took the plunge on a treat that I’d wanted for months: The Nintendo Switch OLED and the latest installment of the Animal Crossing franchise, Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

    While the Switch is great and all (I bought this one), what I really fell in love with was Animal Crossing. While the game already proved itself to be a balm to the soul for others during the pandemic, I didn’t realize just how fantastic it was until I played for myself. And if you’re shopping Prime’s Big Deals Day for games this year, you might want to consider Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

    From soothing instrumentals and friendly Islanders to the incomparable joy that comes from catching a rare bug or fish, Animal Crossing and its wholesome vibes have won me over.

    The first night I had the game, I played for about 4 hours. If you’re a regular gamer, that might not seem too intense, but I don’t usually play video games in my free time. So getting me to sit down and engage with a game for that long is an absolute feat, and a testament to the power of Animal Crossing.

    It’s now a part of my nighttime routine to play Animal Crossing for about an hour before I go to sleep. If you’re like me, and you’re looking for a fun treat to give yourself to kick boredom — or if you’re just looking for a wholesome game to add to your rotation — Animal Crossing: New Horizons has my vote.

  • Can You Return Prime Day Purchases After Christmas? Return Policies for Amazon and More

    Can You Return Prime Day Purchases After Christmas? Return Policies for Amazon and More

    Now that we’re in October, the holiday season is quickly approaching. With that in mind, several big sales are coming up, including Amazon’s October Prime Day and Black Friday. If you’re planning to buy gifts during these huge sales events, you’ll likely need to know what the return policy is just in case the items don’t work out.

    See below for the return windows and policies for major retail stores Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy and Macy’s. For more shopping tips, here’s how to get $30 ahead of October Prime Day. Also, here’s how to get shipping costs cut at these chain retailers.

    Amazon returns

    When you make a purchase on Amazon — even Amazon Warehouse — you’ve got 30 days to return the items. That’s not a lot of time if you’re buying gifts that you intend to give during the holidays. My suggestion? Open the item you’ve purchased to check that it has all the parts and pieces, and to make sure it’s what you’re after. If not, box it back up and ship it back as soon as possible.

    If you do keep the item that you plan to gift past 30 days and the recipient finds that it doesn’t work for them, they can still get a refund for up to 80% of the total price on an Amazon gift card. They can also choose to exchange the item — for instance, if it’s the wrong size or color.

    Note that some Amazon sellers may have different return policies.

    Walmart returns

    If you buy something from Walmart (online or in-store), you typically have a 90-day window to return it. However, Walmart does offer extended holiday returns for items purchased between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 that give you until Jan. 31, 2024, to return the item. So if you buy something as a gift during one of its sales, you or the person receiving it will have time to return or exchange the item.

    Target deals graphic

    Target returns

    If you buy something at Target and decide you’d like to return it, you have 90 days to do so. And if you have Target’s credit card, RedCard, you have 120 days to make the return. If you’re returning a Target brand item or something from your registry, Target gives you a full year.

    Similar to Walmart, Target also has an extended holiday return policy. Here’s how it works:

    • For all electronics and entertainment items (excluding Apple products) purchased between Oct. 1 and Dec. 24, the 30-day refund period will start on Dec. 26 and must be returned by Jan. 24, 2024.
    • For Apple products (excluding iPhones) purchased between Oct. 1 and Dec. 24, the 15-day refund period will start on Dec. 26 and must be returned by Jan. 9, 2024.
    • For mobile phones purchased in-store or online as a pickup order between Oct. 1 and Dec. 24, the 14-day refund window starts on Dec. 26 and must be returned by Jan. 8, 2024.

    Best Buy returns

    Best Buy gives you 15 days to return items you’ve purchased, and 14 days if it’s an activatable device like a phone or tablet. However, if you’re a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total member, you have 60 days to return anything you’ve purchased, excluding activatable devices.

    If you’re returning a gift you received, you’ll get store credit for the purchase price if you return it in a store. If you return the gift by mail, the gift buyer will get the credit.

    If Best Buy follows last year’s holiday return policy, items purchased between Oct. 24 and Dec. 31 have until Jan. 14 to be returned.

    Macy’s returns

    Any item purchased from Macy’s must be returned within 30 days. If it’s an item from a gift registry, you have 90 days from the event date to return it.

    If Macy’s follows last year’s holiday return policy, items purchased Oct. 3 and later have a 90-day return window. This policy would end Jan. 31, 2024.

    For more, here’s how to save on your next Target shopping trip. And here are nine Amazon Prime tips you shouldn’t forget.

  • Best Prime Day Laptop Deals Available Right Now

    Amazon’s October Prime Day two-day shopping extravaganza is now just around the corner. Though the official sale doesn’t start till Tuesday, Oct. 10, the deals have already begun, including a number of steep laptop discounts. And the savings aren’t limited to Amazon — there are competing sales at Best Buy and Walmart that can save you big money on a new laptop.

    We’ve hunted around for the biggest price breaks on laptops that are worth buying, and here are the best current laptop deals we’ve found. And when the official Prime Day sale starts we’ll update this list with the latest laptop deals at Amazon and beyond.

  • Best Anti-Prime Day Deals: Top Bargains at Walmart, Target and Other Retailers

    Best Anti-Prime Day Deals: Top Bargains at Walmart, Target and Other Retailers

    Amazon’s massive October Prime Day sale is officially kicking off on Tuesday, but you don’t have to wait to start saving. You don’t even have to shop on Amazon to reap the benefits. During Amazon’s sale days, it’s not unusual to see competing sales at other major retailers such as Walmart, Target and Best Buy. So, if you’re anti-Prime, this one is for you. Right now, you can find tons of top bargains on tech, home goods and much more, and to help you take full advantage of these anti-Prime Day deals, we’ve rounded up some of the best offers you’ll find outside of Amazon right now below. More deals will be popping up throughout the week, and we’ll continue to update this page with savings you won’t want to miss, so be sure to check back often.

    Best alternative tech deals

    More alternative tech deals:

    Best alternative home and kitchen deals

    More alternative home and kitchen deals:

    Best alternative health and fitness deals

    More alternative health and fitness deals:

  • Monday Night Football: How to Watch Packers vs. Raiders, ManningCast Without Cable

    Monday Night Football: How to Watch Packers vs. Raiders, ManningCast Without Cable

    The Las Vegas Raiders are reeling. After opening the season with a win, they’ve dropped three straight. Jimmy Garoppolo’s first four games as a Raider haven’t gone well. The team is averaging fewer than 16 points a game despite having premier offensive weapons in running back Josh Jacobs and receiver Davante Adams. The Raiders will look to reverse their fortunes on Monday night against the Green Bay Packers. The 2-2 Packers have been up and down thus far this year as they adjust to having Jordan Love under center.

    The Packers-Raiders game kicks off tonight at 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT) on ABC and ESPN. You can flip over to ESPN2 during the game to catch the ManningCast with brothers Peyton and Eli calling the game with guests popping on to chat with the former NFL greats.

    Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders runs with the ball

    Keep reading to see your viewing options for Monday Night Football. And with YouTube and YouTube TV now the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket, along with games also streaming on Paramount Plus, Peacock and ESPN Plus, there’s lots for NFL fans to keep track of this season. Check out our picks for the best live TV streaming services for NFL fans in 2023.

    How to watch MNF without cable

    If you don’t have a cable or satellite TV subscription, you can watch Monday Night Football with a live TV service. The good news for football fans is that ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 are available on each of the five major streaming services.

    All of the live TV streaming services above offer free trials, allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.

  • Forget Prime Day, Sony’s LinkBuds S Wireless Earbuds Are 50% Off at New Egg

    Forget Prime Day, Sony’s LinkBuds S Wireless Earbuds Are 50% Off at New Egg

    With so much talk about Amazon’s October Prime Day, it’s easy to forget that there are some great deals to be had at other retailers. Right now Newegg has the popular Sony LinkBuds S wireless earbuds available for just $99. That’s a huge discount on the original $199 you’d normally pay.

    You don’t need to be a math whizz to know that’s a 50% saving on a pair of earbuds that are a great alternative to the usual AirPods options. There are two colors available, but do note that the best deal is on the black version — you’ll pay an extra $10 or so to get the white, but even then you’d save a solid $90.

    You’ll get plenty of features for your money no matter which of those two colors you choose. Things start well with six hours of battery life from a single charge. They get better when you realize that battery life increases to up to 20 hours when you use the included charging case. What’s more, a simple five-minute charge will get you a full hour of listening time should you need a quick top-up.

    Other features include the ability to pair the earbuds with two devices at the same time, as well as strong audio performance thanks to the integrated V1 processor. You can also use your new earbuds for calls as well, with voice signal processing ensuring you’ll come through loud and clear. CNET’s David Carnoy praised the LinkBuds S in his review, especially their “lightweight, compact design with comfortable fit” and “very good sound and good noise canceling.”

    We don’t know when this deal is going to end, so we’d recommend you consider placing your order soon if you want to lock this price in. Delay, and you could wind up paying more than you had to.

  • Amazon Tech Hits Lowest-Ever Prices in Prime Day Deals

    Amazon Tech Hits Lowest-Ever Prices in Prime Day Deals

    Amazon’s Prime Big Deals Day, aka October Prime Day, officially kicks off Oct. 10, but the deals are already starting. In particular, four of Amazon’s tech favorites just hit their lowest prices ever.

    Historical price data confirms that Amazon’s Eero Pro 6 Wi-Fi router, the Echo Show 10 and Fire TVs (32 and 40 inches) are officially available for their lowest-ever prices, despite some of these having been on the market for almost three years.

    As new deals are announced, CNET’s got you covered. Check out the best early deals available now and the best deals under $10, $25 and $50.

  • Save Big on New and Refurbished M1 and M2 Macs From Just $280

    Save Big on New and Refurbished M1 and M2 Macs From Just $280

    Picking up a MacBook doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars, especially if you’re willing to go refurbished or choose an open-box product. Right now Woot has options for both, and prices start at a low, low $280.

    The cheapest model available as part of this deal is a 2017 13-inch MacBook Air with a starting price of $280. Looking for something more powerful? A refurbished 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M1 Max chip starts at $2,000. There are many more options between those two as well, so be sure to check out what’s on offer before placing any orders.

    If you’re looking to maximize your screen size and want a powerhouse that can handle pretty much whatever you throw at it without going M1 Max, the 2021 MacBook Pro is a solid option. It has a 16.2-inch screen and an Apple M1 Pro chip, plus extra ports like HDMI 2.0 and an SD card reader. It’s available from $1,350 with a variety of configurations to choose from to suit your needs.

    With so many different options there is sure to be a bargain laptop for everyone. Just make sure to keep in mind that we don’t know how long these prices are going to stick around, especially considering stocks are limited.

    Be sure to note the condition of the machine you’re buying, with various options available in today’s sale. And check out Woot’s guide to the terms it uses for its various refurbished and open-box products so you know exactly what to expect.

  • Google’s Pixel Watch Drops to Just $280 Following Watch 2 Launch

    Google’s Pixel Watch Drops to Just $280 Following Watch 2 Launch

    The Google Pixel Watch is a great smartwatch and while the recently unveiled Pixel Watch 2 is here to take its place, the original is still a great option — especially with this discount bringing the price all the way down to just $280.

    That’s a solid $70 off the original $350 asking price and what’s more, though it’s unclear if the discount will stick around at Amazon through its October Prime Day event or if it will be even more short-lived. When that will be, we don’t yet know, unfortunately. Missed out? Don’t worry, there are plenty of October Prime Day smartwatch deals to be had.

    The Google Pixel Watch comes with all of the smartwatch and fitness tracking features that you would expect from a modern wearable. That includes tracking of your activities, calories burned, and more thanks to Fitbit integration. The health features continue with heart rate monitoring that includes Afib and ECG capabilities to make sure that you know what your heart is up to.

    On the smarts side, you’ll benefit from apps that help you stay connected on the go including sending and receiving messages and emails, not to mention making contactless payments. Turn-by-turn directions via Google Maps will help you get wherever you need to go, while Emergency SOS gives your watch the power to call for help should you need it.

    This special price is currently available on a variety of color combinations, but not all. Cellular-enabled variants are seeing similar savings, too. Make sure to select the one that you prefer and confirm the price before you place your order.