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  • HBO Max Is Rebranding. Here’s What That Means for You

    HBO Max Is Rebranding. Here’s What That Means for You

    Warner Bros. Discovery revealed on Wednesday that “HBO Max” is out, and “Max” is the name of its rebranded streaming service. The reworked platform will house merged content from HBO Max and Discovery Plus, giving you shows like Euphoria and Succession next to greige-tinted unscripted series like Fixer Upper. Along with the new name comes a new tagline: The One to Watch.

    The company is touting a larger library and a better user interface, but you may have some basic questions about how all these changes will affect your existing account. And newcomers may be curious about what’s up with Max and what the service has to offer. Here are answers to some of your questions.

    When will Max roll out in my country?

    US customers will have access to Max on May 23. Users in Latin America will see the rollout in fall 2023, with certain Europe and Asia markets receiving Max access in early to mid 2024.

    Once the service launches, it will automatically upgrade with the new Max logo, interface and features. According to Warner Bros. Discovery, existing subscribers will see their profiles, billing information and watch lists seamlessly transfer to the updated version and they’ll only have to open the app to use the platform. However, the company said some users will be prompted to download the new version of the streaming app.

    New Max customers can either sign up for HBO Max now, or wait to subscribe to the new service on May 23 to start streaming instantly.

    How much will Max cost?

    The price will remain the same as current HBO Max subscriptions, but there’s one new premium plan that will cost more than the standard two options. Max Ad-Lite will cost $10 per month and come with HD and two streams, while ad-free Max is priced at $16 monthly for HD, two streams and 30 downloads.

    When the new service arrives in May, there will also be a $20-per-month Ultimate Plan, which offers four concurrent streams, 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos sound and 100 downloads. This is a change, as HBO Max currently offers three streams for both plans with the ability to watch some titles in 4K Ultra HD. Yes, you’ll have to pay more for 4K, but some existing HBO Max features will still be available for up to six months after Max’s launch.

    Note that Discovery Plus will continue to be a standalone streaming option. It’s currently priced at $5 a month for the ad-supported plan and $7 per month without ads.

    What TV shows and movies will be on Max?

    Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming offering will bring together content from HBO Max and Discovery Plus. Max will have HBO originals, Warner Bros. movies, Max originals, DC Comics and Harry Potter alongside programming from brands including Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC and ID. The entire HBO Max library will be found on Max with a selected collection of Discovery titles.

    At its Wednesday press conference, Warner Bros. Discovery highlighted a range of new titles that’ll be hitting the freshly rebranded streaming service. In addition to DC drama The Penguin, subscribers will have access to spinoffs of familiar franchises like The Conjuring, The Big Bang Theory, Game of Thrones and Harry Potter. New shows coming to the streamer range from a limited series starring Kate Winslet to a Barbie-themed home renovation competition series, and from a thriller based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to a dating series from the producers of 90 Day Fiance.

    WBD’s head of content, Kathleen Finch, and Max’s content boss, Casey Bloys, emphasized that family and children’s content will also take center stage on the new service, with an aim at audiences of all ages. Viewers will get more animation and entertainment releases from popular brands like Cartoon Network, Hanna-Barbera, Boomerang, Looney Toons and DC. This includes a new animated version of Peter & the Wolf from U2’s Bono.

    Subscribers can also expect films to find Max as their streaming home after their theatrical runs. Shazam! Fury of the Gods will arrive on launch day, and Blue Beetle, Dune 2, Barbie, and The Flash are among the other movie titles you’ll find on the platform. The Flash will hit Max in the fall.

    illustration of a boy facing a wolfillustration of a boy facing a wolf

    A new take on Peter & the Wolf is coming to Max, courtesy of Bono.

    Max, Warner Bros. Discovery

    Is there a way to opt out of Discovery or HBO Max content?

    No. But you can choose to have a standalone Discovery Plus subscription instead of subscribing to Max. While there won’t be a separate version for HBO Max and HBO-branded content, Warner Bros. Discovery says the updated app will have an interface that’s more tailored to a user’s personal tastes. It’ll also feature genre hubs and a new content navigation menu at the top of the screen to make it easier to find what you want.

    According to the company’s global streaming boss, J.B. Perrette, Max will “have differentiated and high-performing personalized experiences including elements such as ‘Because You Watched’ recommendations, and immersive hero images tailored for each user.” He indicated that the app’s recommendation engine will eventually learn to surface content that matches your viewing habits.

    Should I cancel my current HBO Max or Discovery Plus subscription if I have both?

    There’s no need to cancel your subscriptions right now unless you’re no longer enjoying them. All existing HBO Max subscribers will transition to Max when the app relaunches in May. Max will include Discovery Plus content, but Discovery Plus will also remain a separate, lower-priced streaming option that has content only from Discovery networks. If you like Max’s fully merged lineup, then you may want to wait and drop Discovery Plus in May.

    What if I get HBO or HBO Max through cable?

    If you currently receive HBO Max or HBO through a mobile carrier or your cable/satellite TV provider, you’ll have access to the updated Max app. You won’t have to cancel and resubscribe. Upon launch, it’ll be available through AT&T, Hulu, Cox, Xfinity, Verizon, DirecTV, Prime Video channels and other services. You can view the list on the Max website. Max will be accessible on most devices, including TVs, gaming consoles and mobile phones.

    If you’re new to Max or Discovery Plus, you can sign up now or wait until May 23.

    To learn more about WBD’s streaming services, read up on its strategy for live sports and which channels are on Discovery Plus.

  • The Easiest Way to Stop Losing Important iPhone Notes

    The Easiest Way to Stop Losing Important iPhone Notes

    Your iPhone is packed with helpful features — like voice isolation for calls and the option to view all your Wi-Fi passwords — and, Apple’s Notes is no exception. The app is one of the most powerful note-taking tools in the mobile world. It’s clutch for shopping lists, on-the-fly reminders and jotting down any other important tidbits you can think of.

    There are an abundance of ways to use the Notes app to track everything in your life. But if you’ve had an iPhone for a long time, there’s a good chance you’ve built up a large collection of notes, which can make it tricky to track down the notes you actually need on a regular basis.

    CNET Tech Tips logoCNET Tech Tips logo

    One of the handiest solutions came in the form of tags, which were added to iOS 15 in 2021.

    Tags, which are similar to the hashtags used on social media sites such as Instagram or TikTok, can be added anywhere on a note, including the title. You can add them at any time, even retroactively. You can also organize your notes into regular folders, but that requires a bit of forward planning and thought work.

    Read more: Best iPhone in 2023: Which Apple Phone Should You Buy?

    To add a tag to a note, type # then enter a new tag name and press the space bar. You can also choose an existing tag. Type # and select the tag you want from the suggestions that appear above your keyboard where autocorrections usually are.

    Three tags I regularly use are the #recipe, #grocerylist and #receipt tags. When I tap on the #recipe tag, Notes will pull up a collection of recipes I’ve tagged irrespective of the folder they’re stored in. I’ll hit up my #grocerylist tag, which will serve up all my previous grocery lists, when it’s time for me to restock. And I’ll refer to my #receipt tag, which brings up tagged receipts, when I’m reconciling expenses against my credit card statement.

    Tags don’t need to be one continuous word, but they can’t contain spaces. You can use hyphens, numbers and underscores — for example #receipts-feb2023 or #grocerylist-vegan. You can also add multiple tags to a single note or use tags to create smart folders, which is essentially a collection of notes assembled by tag regardless of which folder they’re stored in.

    iphone notes appiphone notes app

    Using tags, like the travel one in this image, is a great way to organize your iPhone notes and avoid losing them.

    Apple/Screenshot by Sareena Dayaram

    Don’t worry if you’ve never used tags before, and want to start organizing your notes. You can tag multiple notes retroactively — here’s how.

    1. Go to the folder with the list of notes
    2. Tap the More button (three dots), then select Notes
    3. Select the notes you want tagged, then tap Tags at the bottom of the screen. If you already have a collection of tags, the iPhone will pull up the ones you already have for you to choose from. (So when selecting notes, its more efficient to choose the ones that have similar topics if possible so you can tag them in one fell swoop.) If you don’t have any pre-existing tags, the iPhone will serve up tag suggestions for you to choose from.
    4. Select the tags you want to add to the notes, then tap Done.

    smart folder on iphonesmart folder on iphone

    The smart folder act like a filter and collects all notes with specific hashtags.

    Apple/Screenshot by Sareena Dayaram

    If you want to collect your tagged notes into a folder, use the Smart Folder feature (introduced alongside tags in iOS 15) like so:

    1. Tap the New Folder button
    2. Enter a name and tap Make Into Smart Folder
    3. Choose which filters you want — certain tags, when notes were created, when they were last edited and more — those notes will automatically be included in the folder
    4. Tap Done, and your Smart Folder is created

    You can also convert a regular folder into a Smart Folder by tapping the More button and choosing the “convert” option.

    If you enjoyed this iPhone productivity tip, make sure to check out these 10 hidden iOS 16 settings that’ll change how you use your iPhone, as well as the most annoying iOS 16 features and how to fix them.

  • Best Gaming Laptops for 2023

    Best Gaming Laptops for 2023

    Gaming laptops are great for playing PC games on the go. Though they aren’t the most portable laptops, the best gaming laptops are a somewhat portable alternative to the powerful and towering desktop PC.

    But there’s a lot more you need to know than just the laptop’s raw power. A laptop with the best graphics card, SSD and processor may have the specs to blow your mind, but it could all underperform if the components overheat easily and don’t have proper airflow.

    Battery life can also impact the stability of your gaming performance. And though you probably don’t want to always use an external mechanical keyboard with per-key RGB backlighting, a system’s WASD keys can feel like mashed potatoes under your fingers.

    Quality doesn’t come cheap, but if you’re on a tight budget and know where to compromise — such as looking for a model with components you can upgrade later to make your up-front cost a little lower, or opting for a screen that’s lower resolution and slower — you can still get something that’ll ensure a good gaming experience.

    Plus, advances in cloud gaming mean you can play more games on lower-end hardware than ever before. So it’s not a given that you’ll need to bust your budget to pay for a new laptop. With cloud gaming, you do have subscription fees, so make sure to factor that in.

    Check out our recommendations for best gaming laptops below. This list is periodically updated as we test and review products so you can find your own best gaming laptop.

    James Martin/CNET

    The HP Victus 16 is a strong, affordable option. It offers a respectable balance for people with different needs for play and work. Spending more will likely get you better build quality and more enjoyable audio. But if you can get past the screen wobble, the Victus can hold its own against pricier models.

    Prices start at about $700 for the 15-inch model, but I really recommend avoiding configurations with 8GB RAM; MacOS can get away with that, but Windows has more overhead. For a little more ($890), you can get a reasonable low-end model that you won’t outgrow quickly with an Intel i5-12450H, 12GB RAM, 512GB PCIe NVMe, a 144Hz 1080p screen and GeForce GTX 1650.

    The cheapest model should still be able to play most games in 1080p with the graphics settings at medium to high.

    Read HP Victus 16 review

    $890 at Amazon

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    Josh Goldman/CNET

    The Acer Nitro 5 comes in both 17.3- and 15.6-inch sizes. A 17-inch cheap gaming laptop is a rarity with entry-level gaming laptops; most sub-$1,000 gaming laptops have 15.6-inch displays, and the Acer’s larger screen lets you sink in and get lost in your chosen gaming world. The 17-inch version we reviewed starts at less than $900 with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H,1080p screen and an GTX if you’re OK with 8GB RAM. If you can manage about $200 more though, you can get a significantly better system, with an i7-11800H, RTX 3050 Ti and 16GB RAM.

    At this level, you’ll be able to play current games at FHD resolution with the graphics settings at medium to high, depending on the game you’re playing, of course. Still, Acer makes an affordable gaming laptop that packs in some nice extras like direct controls for power and cooling and upgrades access to memory and storage.

    Read Acer Nitro 5 review

    $770 at Amazon

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    Lori Grunin/CNET

    A smaller version than the 15-inch staple, the 14-inch Razer Blade delivers a lot of gaming power for its size without feeling small — an important consideration for a gaming laptop. It also offers decent battery life, a nice size for travel and a subtle design (for a gaming laptop) that’s buttoned-up enough for sitting in a meeting with the top brass or clients.

    Read Razer Blade 14 review

    Read our Razer Blade 14 (2021) review.

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    Lori Grunin/CNET

    Asus pairs an ultraportable 13-inch two-in-one that has a relatively powerful AMD CPU with an external GPU dock equipped with a near-top-of-the-line Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 mobile processor, and the result is an incredibly flexible system for both work and play that outperforms many bigger, clunkier gaming laptops. Because it’s a two-in-one, you can comfortably use an external gaming keyboard without the built-in keyboard getting in the way. The stand-alone model has gotten an upgrade to an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti since I reviewed it, but the bundle with the XG Mobile still has a GTX 1650.

    Read ROG Flow X13 with XG Mobile review

    Read our Asus ROG Flow X13 with XG Mobile review.

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    Other notable gaming laptops we’ve tested

    We’re working our way through a raft of 2022 systems, and we’ll update here with those that stand out — just not quite enough for a blanket recommendation.

    Razer Blade 15 ($2,600): The 2022 refresh of the Blade 15 retains the title of least-gaming-like gaming laptop, but doesn’t forgo the speed. Like all Razers it’s pretty expensive. The 14-inch is our pick between the two, though, because it’s less expensive and more portable. However, if you need more speed you may need to splurge a little for a bigger system that has more power to cool the hot components. Read the Razer Blade 15 review

    Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 ($1,529): Asus’s latest version of its all-AMD 14-inch laptop is compact and definitely turns in some excellent performance when it’s plugged in, but when you pull the plug it can get subpar speeds on the types of things you’d frequently do unplugged. Like work. Read the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 review

    Gaming laptop FAQs

    Do you still have to compromise on battery life?

    A compromise you’ve traditionally had to make has been battery life, which has typically lasted as little as 2 hours of nonstop gaming. You also couldn’t play most complex games — GPU- or CPU-intensive ones — on battery power. Processors would get throttled back and screens dim during hard-core gaming sessions, so a laptop that felt nimble when connected became a slog on battery power, turning your epic battles into battles of frustration.

    That’s been changing recently, as Intel, AMD and Nvidia have concentrated on improving their power management technologies. No, you still can’t play for 10 hours on battery power, but now you can find some great gaming laptops with 10-hour battery lives to make gaming on the road more feasible.

    asus-rog-flow-x13-and-xg-mobile-dsc00783asus-rog-flow-x13-and-xg-mobile-dsc00783

    The Asus ROG Flow X13 with its optional sidekick the Mobile XG offers a blended option for gamers: The small, lightweight laptop has a powerful AMD Ryzen 5900HS CPU and an Nvidia GTX 1650 GPU for lightweight gaming, while the external dock incorporates an RTX 3080 mobile GPU and extra connections.

    Lori Grunin/CNET

    What do I need to know about a gaming laptop’s GPU (beyond speed)?

    The fastest graphics card currently available in a laptop is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti with the usual Max-Q variants. The Max-Q versions run at slower frequencies than their full-size siblings — that keeps down the noise and heat and allows them to fit into thinner designs. RTX models also accelerate ray-traced rendering and provide intelligent upscaling (also known as DLSS) where it’s explicitly supported. If your favorite games don’t use it, the lower-end Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti incorporates Turing, the last generation of Nvidia’s technology, without the extra cost or power burden of the RT cores.

    The problem with the Max-Q, though, is that with its last-generation Optimus technology that’s still used by a lot of laptops, you have to reboot to switch between a dedicated GPU mode and a power-saving mode, which only uses the GPU for accelerating, not actually drawing the screen (so every frame has to travel from the GPU’s dedicated memory over the system bus to the CPU and then to the screen rather than going directly from the GPU memory to the screen).

    That means it can’t take advantage of adaptive refresh-rate technologies and it can negatively affect frame rates. So why not leave it on the GPU mode all the time? Because you’ll frequently get poorer CPU performance and even lesser graphics performance in games that balance CPU and GPU usage rather than going all-out on the GPU.

    Nvidia launched the new generation of its Max-Q architecture, which introduced Advanced Optimus, in 2020. It’s smarter, with the integrated and discrete graphics sharing (rather than switching) the pipeline to the display, no reboot necessary. But Advanced Optimus needs a major change to system design, so laptops supporting Advanced Optimus still aren’t plentiful.

    You can spot systems that require a reboot, both AMD- and Nvidia-equipped models, when they say they offer a MUX switch. That just means it’s more convenient than the next-step-down alternative, which is having to manually change it in the BIOS.

    AMD’s current high-power laptop GPUs, the Radeon RX 6600M, 6700M and 6800M, don’t quite reach the level of the fastest Nvidia RTX models, but the 6800M has gotten pretty close, with performance on average falling between the RTX 3070 and 3080. AMD also launched its first line of S-series mobile GPUs, which require less power, and thus less cooling, for new thin-and-light gaming laptops like the 2022 ROG Zephyrus G14.

    On the near horizon, Intel finally launched its first generation of Arc discrete high-performance GPUs, though we’ve yet to see any for the gaming laptops.

    Does a gaming laptop’s CPU matter?

    Yes, but not always. In general, sims benefit from faster clock speeds and more cores since those are required for the heavy calculations when worlds get complex. More and more AAA games are also starting to balance loads better between the CPU and GPU where possible as well. And if you bounce back and forth between a game and the rest of Windows, it can help speed that kind of multitasking a bit.

    Still, a lot of games, especially first-person shooters, don’t take advantage of more than four cores. That was partly Intel’s rationalization for its continued reliance on its old 14-nanometer architecture for the 10th-gen high-performance (H series) processors. It let the company boost single-core clock frequencies, compared with gains it would have made by moving to a smaller process technology such as Ice Lake, which is designed to support more cores on less power draw.

    Intel recently jumped to 10nm Alder Lake for its 12th-gen CPUs, which combines performance and power-efficient cores similar to Apple’s M1 and M2 chips. What we’ve seen thus far (like in the MSI Raider GE76) does show how fast the 12th-gen H-series CPUs can run and how it can help extend battery life.

    What do I need to know about screen size and refresh rate?

    And then there are the screens. All the major companies bumped their flagship 1080p configurations to 360Hz, but for many a gamer, they’re not essential: 240Hz max should be fine for those few times you can get frame rates above 240fps. Even 144Hz will do for many people, but artifacts like tearing, caused by the screen refresh rate becoming out of sync with the frame rate, depend on your games as much as your laptop brand and hardware.

    We’re also seeing a lot more 120Hz 4K screens in the flagship models in both 17- and 15-inch sizes and a ton of 165Hz and 240Hz QHD (1440p) options. The latter are my favorites, balancing higher resolution — certainly enough on a laptop screen — with gaming-friendly refresh rates.

    How we test computers

    The review process for laptops, desktops, tablets and other computer-like devices consists of two parts: performance testing under controlled conditions in the CNET Labs and extensive hands-on use by our expert reviewers. This includes evaluating a device’s aesthetics, ergonomics and features. A final review verdict is a combination of both those objective and subjective judgments.

    The list of benchmarking software we use changes over time as the devices we test evolve. The most important core tests we’re currently running on every compatible computer include: Primate Labs Geekbench 5, Cinebench R23, PCMark 10 and 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra.

    A more detailed description of each benchmark and how we use it can be found in our How We Test Computers page.

    More for gamers

  • Nottingham Forest vs. Man United Livestream: How to Watch Premier League Soccer From Anywhere

    Nottingham Forest vs. Man United Livestream: How to Watch Premier League Soccer From Anywhere

    Nottingham Forest will look to arrest an alarming slide into the relegation zone, as they host top-four chasing Man United on Sunday in a potentially crucial game for both sides in the English Premier League.

    Winless and without a clean sheet in nine games, second from bottom Forest look in free fall, with their hopes of survival jeopardized by a mounting injury list.

    Willy Boly, Giulian Biancone, Dean Henderson, Renan Lodi, Omar Richards, Gustavo Scarpa and Chris Wood are all definitely ruled out of this game, while Serge Aurier, Cheikhou Kouyaté, Moussa Niakhaté and Ryan Yates are all considered doubtful.

    United, who let a two-goal lead slip against Sevilla on Thursday in the Europa League, are also somewhat battle-scarred, with the blow of losing Marcus Rashford for an extended injury lay-off compounded further by the loss of defenders Lisandro Martínez and Raphaël Varane for this game.

    Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game live wherever you are in the world.

    Manchester United defender Harry Maguire shouting and gesturing with his hands.Manchester United defender Harry Maguire shouting and gesturing with his hands.

    With first-choice central defensive pairing Martínez and Varane both injured, England’s Harry Maguire looks set to start at the back for Man United.

    Michael Zemanek/DeFodi Images/Getty Images

    Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester United: When and where?

    Nottingham Forest host Manchester United at the City Ground on Sunday, April 16. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. BST local time in the UK (11:30 a.m. ET, 8:30 a.m. PT in the US and 1:30 a.m. AEST in Australia on Monday, April 17).

    How to watch the Nottingham Forest vs. Man United game online from anywhere using a VPN

    If you find yourself unable to view the game locally, you may need a different way to watch the game — 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 Canada, 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.

    Sarah Tew/CNET

    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.

    Livestream the Nottingham Forest vs. Man United game in the US

    This game is on USA Network, which you can access as part of your cable package or at the NBC Sports website with a valid login, and can be streamed via Sling TV and other more expensive streaming TV services.

    Sling TV’s Blue plan includes USA Network making it a useful option for those wanting to watch some EPL action. It’s $40 a month and includes over 40 channels, including other sports channels like ESPN and FS1.

    Livestream the Nottingham Forest vs. Man United game in the UK

    Premier League rights in the UK are split between Sky Sports, BT Sport and Amazon Prime Video. This game is exclusive to Sky Sports — showing on its Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League and Ultra channels. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the game 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 game.

    Sky subsidiary Now (formerly Now TV) offers streaming access to Sky Sports channels with a Now Sports membership. You can get a day of access for 12, or sign up to a monthly plan from 25 per month right now.

    Livestream the Nottingham Forest vs. Man United game in Canada

    If you want to stream this EPL clash live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to FuboTV Canada. The service has exclusive rights to this Premier League season.

    FuboTV is the go-to destination for Canadians looking to watch the Premier League this season with exclusive streaming rights to every game. It costs CA$25 per month, though you can save some cash by paying quarterly or annually.

    Livestream the Nottingham Forest vs. Man United game in Australia

    Football fans Down Under can watch this EPL fixture on streaming service Optus Sport, which is showing every single Premier League game live in Australia this season.

    With exclusive rights to screen every EPL match live this season, as well as German Bundesliga and Spanish La Liga games, streaming service Optus Sport is a particularly big draw for Aussie soccer fans.

    If you’re already an Optus network customer you can bag Optus Sport for a reduced price, with discounts bringing the price down to as low as AU$7 per month. If you’re not, a standalone monthly subscription to the service starts at AU$25.

    Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN

    • With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming EPL matches 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.
  • Rare MacBook Sale Saves You Up to $700 on Apple’s Sleek Laptops

    Rare MacBook Sale Saves You Up to $700 on Apple’s Sleek Laptops

    There’s no denying that Apple makes some of the best laptops on the market right now, with multiple MacBooks claiming a spot on our list of the best laptops overall for 2023. But they’re also pretty pricey, with even the most affordable models starting at $1,000 or more. Which is why you won’t want to miss out on these one-day offers from Best Buy if you’re looking to get your hands on one. Today only, Best Buy is offering up to $700 off over a dozen different MacBook models and configurations, with prices starting at just $800. These deals are only available until 9:59 p.m. PT (12:59 a.m. ET) tonight, so be sure to get your order in before then if you don;t want to miss out on these savings.

    With so many different models and configurations available, you should have no trouble finding a MacBook to suit your needs at this sale. If you’re often on the go, and want a lightweight model that isn’t going to feel too cumbersome, you can pick up a sleek M1 MacBook Air for just $800, saving you $200 compared with the usual price. These M1 models first hit shelves in 2020 and are now a generation old, but are still more than capable of handling most people’s day-to-day needs with an eight-core CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and a vibrant 13.3-inch Retina display.

    Or, if powerful hardware is your No. 1 priority, you can grab one of the latest MacBook Pros. They’re equipped with Apple’s cutting-edge M2 processor for lighting-fast performance, as well as a 10-core GPU and a stunning 13.3-inch Liquid Retina display. Prices start at $1,149 for the 256GB model with 8GB of RAM, saving you $150. Or, if you prefer a larger display, you can snag a slightly older 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M1 Pro processor, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for $1,999, saving you $500 compared with the usual price.

    There are a few other configurations available, so be sure to shop around, but note that some models may sell out before the sale officially expires tonight. And all models come with some free bonuses, including four months of Apple Music and three months of Apple TV Plus and iCloud Plus (for new subscribers only).

  • Achievement Unlocked: You Should Be Using These 7 Steam Tips and Tricks

    Achievement Unlocked: You Should Be Using These 7 Steam Tips and Tricks

    Steam is a popular gaming platform that has about 120 million active monthly users, according to Finances Online. Steam lets you play PC games alone or with friends, and it’s compatible with third-party controllers. Plus, there are always sales on games, so you never run out of something fun to play.

    If you know where to look, the service has more to offer than a massive selection of games and bundle deals. Here are a few tips and tricks every Steam user should know to get the most out of the platform.

    CNET Tech Tips logoCNET Tech Tips logo

    Share your library with friends

    If you have a massive gaming library through Steam, it’s possible to share with friends and family. You can select up to five users who can access and use your library across 10 devices that you’ve authorized.

    Open the Steam app and click Steam in the top left corner of the screen. Select Settings (Windows) or Preferences (Mac) and choose Family in the side menu. Click the box that says Authorize Library Sharing on this computer.

    You can also revoke access by clicking your username in the upper right corner of the Steam app and choosing Account Details in the drop-down menu. From there, scroll down to Family Settings and click Manage Family Library Sharing. Under Sharing Status, click Revoke on any devices or accounts you no longer wish to have access.

    Turn on Steam Guard and two-factor authentication

    steam-2steam-2

    Steam Guard can add an extra layer of security to your account.

    Steam/Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET

    Steam Guard can serve as a useful tool to provide an additional level of security against unauthorized access. To set it up on the desktop app or browser, click your username in the top right corner. Click Account Details in the drop-down menu and choose Manage Steam Guard under Account Security.

    When Steam Guard is enabled, you can have codes sent to your phone or email, as well as deauthorize other computers or devices other than the one you’re currently using that might have saved your login information. Steam recommends sending Guard Codes to your phone to also serve as two-factor authentication.

    Set up Family View

    Family View can serve as a useful tool for adults who share an account with younger users. The feature lets families customize which parts of Steam are accessible to other users. To get started, log into the Steam account that your child will use, click the Steam menu in the top left corner and choose Settings (Preferences on Mac). Choose the Family tab and click Manage Family View.

    • Choose what the protected account can access in Family View like Only Games I Choose or All Games, as well as online content and social features. Once you’re satisfied with your choices, click Next.
    • If you selected Only Games I Choose, Steam will generate a list of all your games and you can individually click which games you want PIN-protected.
    • Click Next, verify your recovery email address and click Next again.
    • Create, enter and re-enter your PIN and click Next. Steam will send a verification code to your recovery email, enter that code when prompted and click Next to finalize the process.

    To turn off Family View, return to Manage Family View and click Disable Family View.

    How to use Remote Play Together

    Steam Remote Play set upSteam Remote Play set up

    If you set up Remote Play Together, this is what it’ll look like.

    Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET

    Steam’s Remote Play feature lets you play local multiplayer games with friends and family. One player owns and runs the game, and up to four players can join in. To find a list of compatible Remote Play games, open the Steam app, click Categories and choose Remote Play under Special Sections.

    To start a session, launch your game, make sure your friends are logged in to Steam from their devices and open Steam Overlay in-game. Find your friends list and right-click the names of the people you want to play with, then click Remote Play Together. You can start playing after all your invitees have accepted.

    How to make a Library Collection

    Creating a new collection in SteamCreating a new collection in Steam

    Steam collections can help organize your library.

    Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET

    Steam keeps your games in alphabetical order on the left-hand side of the screen, but if you’ve got a massive library or want even more organization, you can create a Collection. In the Steam app, click Library and choose Collections. Name your collection and choose Create Collection. From there, just drag and drop any games you want to include. The collection will save automatically. Those games will be organized under the name of your collection in the left-hand side menu instead of the larger alphabetical list.

    You can also choose Dynamic Collection by following the same steps. Dynamic Collections use filters to create collections that continuously update as you add more games to our library.

    Add and play non-Steam games

    You can play games that aren’t native to Steam on the platform pretty easily. To add a non-Steam game to your library, open the Steam app and click Add Game in the lower left corner of the screen. From there, click Add a Non-Steam Game.

    Adding a non-steam gameAdding a non-steam game

    Since I added Myst as a non-Steam game, there’s no information on its main page.

    Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET

    Steam will open a window that lists all the games found on your device. Check the box next to the game you want to add and click Add Selected Programs. If you don’t see the game you want, click Browse and Steam will expand your search results. Find the program you want and click Open. Make sure the program or game is checked in the Add a Game window and click Add Selected Programs.

    You should then be able to see the game or program you added in your alphabetical library list on the left side of the screen. When you click the game, the page will likely have little to no information since it’s not native to steam.

    Customize bandwidth

    Adjust the bandwidth on Steam.Adjust the bandwidth on Steam.

    You can adjust the bandwidth to make Steam work faster or slower.

    Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET

    Because Steam uses the internet to download games, getting your gameplay going can take little to no time. But if your internet connection is slow, Steam downloading a game likely won’t leave any download speed for anything else. So, if you want to multitask during a download, you can limit Steam’s download speed.

    Click Steam in the top left corner of the app and choose Settings (Preferences on Mac). Click Downloads and then check the box next to Limit Bandwidth To. From there, you can type in your preferred download speed and click OK. You can adjust or remove the limits at any time.

    For more information, check out CNET’s review of the Steam Deck and how to install Steam on a Chromebook.

    Now playing:Watch this:Steam Deck Mostly Nails Handheld PC Gaming

    13:11
  • Here’s a Clever Way to Lower Your Monthly Streaming TV Costs

    Here’s a Clever Way to Lower Your Monthly Streaming TV Costs

    With the upcoming rollout of Netflix’s account-sharing fees, HBO Max’s rebrand and a wave of streaming service price hikes, it may feel like a luxury to stream. If you add up the costs of each platform, you may discover you’re spending $100 or more a month. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

    Let’s say you’re subscribed to multiple streaming platforms, you watch one or two of them until your favorite series ends its season, then look for the next thing. But is it worth keeping all those accounts active if you’re not watching anything on them? I don’t think so.

    Have a look at this budget-conscious strategy to help you save on your streaming TV expenses.

    Rotate all your streaming subscriptions

    CNET Tech Tips logoCNET Tech Tips logo

    For cord-cutters, shifting from cable to streaming can be a wise financial move. Because you’re able to sign up for monthly plans, it’s easy to jump into a streaming service and jump out when prices increase or content gets dull. But according to Deloitte’s 2022 Media Trends report, the main reasons people cancel their streaming subscriptions are because of costs and lack of fresh content. Media companies call this behavior “churn.” We’re calling this the rotation method, and you should try it.

    The incentive? You save your coin and avoid content droughts. Let’s say a popular show like Ted Lasso or The Masked Singer is set to premiere on a streaming service. Find the total episode count and wait until they’re all available at once on a platform. You cancel Apple TV Plus, Hulu, Disney Plus or other service and then, once all the episodes are available, resubscribe to catch up. Alternatively, you can start streaming a show midseason to cut costs. My monthly guide on which streaming services to cancel can help you keep up.

    The downside? You won’t have immediate access to every show you want to watch and will have to wait until the full season airs. And since many streaming services release new episodes weekly, you might not be caught up at the same time as your friends. If you’re someone who prefers to watch episodes immediately when they drop, you may decide it’s worth it to have multiple subscriptions at a time. If you have patience, however, you can save some money.

    The strategy can also work if you have a live TV streaming service to watch a particular sport or major event like March Madness. Once the season wraps, cancel the service or move to a cheaper platform with fewer channels, like Sling TV.

    Need help figuring out the best way to rotate? Follow the tips below to learn how to churn streaming platforms until your wallet feels content.

    Ted lasso standing in the locker roomTed lasso standing in the locker room

    Why pay for three months of Apple TV Plus to watch Ted Lasso’s final season when you can watch all 12 episodes in May for the price of one month?

    Apple TV Plus

    Tip No. 1: Cancel your subscription before getting charged

    Set calendar reminders for your billing cycle and upcoming TV show or movie release dates. Give yourself enough warning to begin or end a subscription. Apps such as JustWatch, TV Time and Hobi help you track when and where TV shows and movies appear on a streaming service. And JustWatch added a tracker specifically for sports. If you have a smart home device from Google or Amazon, you can set reminders for specific dates and allow a voice assistant like Alexa to notify you of an upcoming bill or streaming release date.

    Tip No. 2: Sign up for streaming service deals

    Look for discounts on streaming services. For example, Starz is now $3 per month for three months, a drop from its regular $9-a-month rate. You can also take advantage of the Disney Bundle, which provides access to Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus in a single package for a reduced price. And eligible Hulu subscribers can add on Disney Plus for $2. Lastly, be sure to check with your mobile carrier to see which ones offer free streaming subscriptions.

    Tip No. 3: Pick one or two default streaming services

    Subscribe to one or two must-have services for the year, and select only one or two more options to fit your monthly budget. Rotate the bonus service(s) according to what you want to watch, ensuring you don’t miss your favorite shows while sticking to your monthly spending cap.

    Tip No. 4: Use monthly billing only

    Avoid annual subscriptions and pay attention to your auto-renewal payment dates. Your billing cycle can help determine when it’s the best time to quit a service, even if you’ve only signed up for a free trial. The only advantage to signing up for an annual plan is when the price is drastically cut down.

    Tip No. 5: Don’t cancel your subscription, pause it

    Hulu allows you to pause your subscription for up to 12 weeks, and Sling has a similar option with stipulations. Check with your streaming provider to see if you can take a temporary break without canceling.

    Give it a shot, and if you don’t like it you can always resubscribe. For more excellent tips on streaming TV, check out this guide to Netflix’s hidden tricks and our tips on the best VPNs.

  • Microsoft Adds AI Chatbot to Its SwiftKey Keyboard App

    Microsoft Adds AI Chatbot to Its SwiftKey Keyboard App

    Microsoft has added its BIng AI chatbot to its popular SwiftKey third-party keyboard app for iOS and Android phones, giving users quick access to AI-generated answers and advice.

    With the keyboard open, you need only tap the blue Bing icon above the keyboard on the left to open the submenu, and then choose whether to have Bing AI search the internet for a query or give you answers itself via a chat.

    The chatbot can also help with conversational tone, offering suggestions for alternative ways to phrase a typed statement if you want your messages to be a little nicer, funnier or more professional. Heck, it’ll even condense what you say into something that’ll fit in a 140-character tweet.

    Anyone can use Bing AI to search within the keyboard, but the more advanced AI chatbot and tone retouching require users to sign in to their Microsoft Account first.

    Microsoft added AI to its Bing search engine in early February and has been rolling out more AI integrations since, like adding an AI image creator powered by OpenAI’s Dall-E AI to Bing and an AI-powered ‘Copilot’ to its Office apps. It seems like Bing AI is going to play a big role in Microsoft’s products going forward, as the company added it to Windows 11, too.

    Ultimately, adding AI capability to its products is Microsoft’s way to differentiate itself from its tech rivals. Google launched its own AI Bard at the end of March and has assured that conversational AI is coming to its search engine, while Amazon launched a new cloud service called Amazon Bedrock that helps AWS customers build generative AI-powered apps.

    Read more: ChatGPT vs. Bing vs. Google Bard: Which AI Is the Most Helpful?

    The AI wave was kicked off by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which arrived late last year to surprise users with its rich yet conversational responses. Critics slammed ChatGPT for generating plausible-sounding but false information, but its potential shocked the tech industry into responding, with Google reportedly sounding a “code red” after OpenAI’s chatbot was released.

  • Man City vs. Leicester City Livestream: How to Watch Premier League Soccer From Anywhere

    Man City vs. Leicester City Livestream: How to Watch Premier League Soccer From Anywhere

    A baptism of fire awaits new Leicester City boss Dean Smith, as his relegation-threatened side travel to the Etihad to take on a Manchester City side in blistering form.

    Smith comes in for Brendan Rogers, who was sacked following a run of bad form that has seen the Foxes slip to second bottom in the English Premier League table, with relegation now looking a very real prospect.

    The former Aston Villa boss kicks off his reign with arguably the toughest challenge in English football as he looks to secure some much-needed points away against a team that has its sights set on toppling EPL leaders Arsenal.

    The hosts are on a superb run of nine straight wins across all competitions, the latest a hugely impressive 3-0 home victory against German giants Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. Man City have won every home game so far in 2023, and scored 25 goals in their last five games.

    Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game live wherever you are in the world.

    Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Guendogan celebrating with arms outstretched.Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Guendogan celebrating with arms outstretched.

    German midfielder Ilkay Gündoğan put in an inspired display for Man City against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

    Tom Flathers/Manchester City FC/Getty Images

    Manchester City vs. Leicester City: When and where?

    Man City host Leicester at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, April 15. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. BST local time in the UK (12:30 p.m. ET, 9:30 a.m. PT in the US, and at 3:30 a.m. AEST on Sunday, April 16 in Australia).

    How to watch the Man City vs. Leicester City game online from anywhere using a VPN

    If you find yourself unable to view the game locally, you may need a different way to watch the game — 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 Canada, 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.

    Sarah Tew/CNET

    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.

    Livestream the Man City vs. Leicester City game in the US

    This EPL fixture is streaming on Peacock. You’ll need a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus account to catch the game live.

    NBC’s streaming service Peacock offers access to plenty of Premier League soccer throughout the season. You’ll need to be signed up with a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus account to stream games live. For a limited time, you can sign up for Peacock Premium at a 60% discount, dropping the monthly cost as low as $2 (or even less with an annual account).

    Livestream the Man City vs. Leicester City game in the UK

    Premier League rights in the UK are split between Sky Sports, BT Sport and Amazon Prime Video. This game is exclusive to Sky Sports — showing on its Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League and Ultra channels. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the game 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 game.

    Sky subsidiary Now (formerly Now TV) offers streaming access to Sky Sports channels with a Now Sports membership. You can get a day of access for 12, or sign up to a monthly plan from 21 per month right now.

    Livestream the Man City vs. Leicester City game in Canada

    If you want to stream this EPL clash live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to FuboTV Canada. The service has exclusive rights to this Premier League season.

    FuboTV is the go-to destination for Canadians looking to watch the Premier League this season with exclusive streaming rights to every game. It costs CA$25 per month, though you can save some cash by paying quarterly or annually.

    Livestream the Man City vs. Leicester City game in Australia

    Football fans Down Under can watch this EPL fixture on streaming service Optus Sport, which is showing every single Premier League game live in Australia this season.

    With exclusive rights to screen every EPL match live this season, as well as German Bundesliga and Spanish La Liga games, streaming service Optus Sport is a particularly big draw for Aussie soccer fans.

    If you’re already an Optus network customer you can bag Optus Sport for a reduced price, with discounts bringing the price down to as low as AU$7 per month. If you’re not, a standalone monthly subscription to the service starts at AU$25.

    Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN

    • With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming EPL matches 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.
  • T-Mobile’s 3 Years With Sprint: What’s Changed Since the Merger

    T-Mobile’s 3 Years With Sprint: What’s Changed Since the Merger

    Three years ago, T-Mobile’s merger with Sprint was finalized, and the nation’s list of top carriers shrank from four to three. At the time, T-Mobile made promises that the merger would be positive for consumers and the larger mobile industry — and though that’s been more true than not, there are still some pledges that haven’t been seen through.

    But it also hasn’t led to a worse situation for consumers, at least not yet. Though having three major carriers to choose from instead of four is worrisome for the future (with Dish so far failing to pose a real challenge), competition has kept plan prices relatively stable and even led to big savings on top-tier phones. Carriers have continued to build out their respective 5G networks, leading to new 5G home internet options for people who aren’t connected to broadband (or are looking for an alternative to their traditional cable options). It isn’t the rosiest future, but it isn’t as bad as some critics had feared.

    In an April 10 blog post, T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert trumpeted how far the carrier has come in three years, citing everything from better 5G service to the greater availability of home internet to lower prices for all, even people signing up with other carriers.

    Indeed, folding in Sprint’s midband 5G towers has given T-Mobile a lead on 5G, letting it achieve nationwide coverage of more than 200 million Americans with faster 5G in 2021, years ahead of both Verizon and AT&T. T-Mobile has also improved 5G access for rural customers, Sievert said.

    T-Mobile piggybacked off its larger 5G network to launch and grow its 5G home internet service. For a $50 monthly subscription fee (if they set up automatic payments), the service offers customers higher-speed connectivity compared with dial-up, costly satellite, or underdeveloped DSL or cable alternatives. Though the speeds aren’t as fast or reliable as those of a good cable or fiber connection, T-Mobile’s 5G service can reach consumers who aren’t hooked up to the highest-speed internet networks.

    And as Sievert notes, competition between carriers has kept prices on par — for instance, Verizon’s comparable 5G Home service also starts at $50 per month.

    Keeping phone plans low

    As far as phone plan prices go, the carrier landscape after T-Mobile and Sprint’s merger has preserved competition in consumers’ favor, at least for the time being. Indeed, carrier discounts and deals have even led to a boom in premium phones, which climbed to up to 18% of the phone market early this year, according to IDC analyst Nabila Popal (up from 10% before the pandemic). Carriers have been desperate to get consumers signed to three-year contracts, so they’ve subsidized most or all of the price for phones like the iPhone 14 or Samsung Galaxy S23 series.

    T-Mobile remains one the last of the big three providers to still offer two-year options on most of its devices, a more consumer-friendly deal. (A notable exception are pricey foldables like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold line, which requires a three-year commitment to get an upgrade discount.) That said, the carrier has tied some of its best perks and promotions — like free Apple TV Plus and its best device trade-in deals — to a requirement to be on its priciest Magenta Max plans.

    On the low end of the price spectrum, T-Mobile did fulfill a premerger promise to offer a $15 per month plan with unlimited talk and text as well as 2.5GB of data, which the carrier has since increased to 3.5GB in compliance with its proposal to increase this cheap plan’s data allowance by 500MB per year. It also has said it’ll keep Mint Mobile’s $15 per month plan should its planned $1.35 billion purchase of the Ryan Reynolds’ owned prepaid carrier go through.

    Another major element in T-Mobile and Sprint’s merger proposal was offering low-cost or free data plans; discounted laptops and tablets; and mobile hotspot access to 10 million low-income households. What the carrier branded as Project 10 Million has so far followed through on providing $4.8 billion in services and supplying 5.3 million students with devices through the end of 2022, a T-Mobile spokesperson told CNET.

    The carrier hadn’t proposed a deadline for hitting the 10 million marker, but it said the program, which launched in 2020, would last five years, meaning it will expire in 2025. T-Mobile hasn’t said what’ll happen after its commitment period ends.

    Merger misses: jobs fall short of promises

    T-Mobile doesn’t seem to have fulfilled other pledges made for the merger. The biggest involves jobs, with then-CEO John Legere saying the new combined company would create new jobs and hire 11,000 more workers by 2024. The new T-Mobile started with around 80,000 employees in 2020, according to regulatory filings, but after losing around 5,000 employees in 2021 due to layoffs, along with more jobs shed among network and engineering as well as retail employees, the carrier so far seems to have fallen short of its promise.

    When reached for comment, T-Mobile pushed back on the idea that the carrier employs fewer people now than it did before the merger. But it didn’t share exact personnel numbers, saying only that thousands of jobs have been created. T-Mobile also didn’t address whether it’ll make the 11,000-person hiring goal set by Legere.

    “Before we merged with Sprint, we said we’d have more employees as a combined company than the two standalone companies would have had on their own without the merger — and we have done just that,” said a T-Mobile spokesperson. In the years since the merger, the spokesperson said, the carrier has also “created thousands of jobs for vendors and partners.”

    Granted, the jobs-related proposal was made by a different CEO and before a pandemic led to layoffs and challenging economic conditions across many industries. But the current situation is still gloomier than T-Mobile had originally proposed.

    The merger also shifted the balance of power among carriers. In their premerger assurances, T-Mobile and Sprint said they’d divest some of their assets to Dish, turning the satellite TV provider into the nation’s de facto fourth-largest carrier and saving the merger. Dish acquired Sprint’s prepaid mobile brand Boost and has the option to pay $3.59 billion for 800MHz wireless spectrum to form its own 5G network, though it may end up passing on the offer to save money after finishing testing the spectrum. In the meantime, Dish has secured agreements with AT&T and T-Mobile to use their 5G networks while it builds its own.

    Though Dish finally opened sign-ups for its 5G service back in August, and launched its own $25 prepaid service in December, progress has been slow to get the carrier in line with the far more established T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T. For now, Dish isn’t a serious threat to its bigger siblings.

    What comes after the merger timeline expires?

    The US Department of Justice required a lot of assurances, like those listed above, to approve the T-Mobile and Sprint merger, but they all have expiration dates. This has implications for who’s helped by the new T-Mobile’s plans — like students aided by Project 10 Million, which lasts through 2025, as well as regular consumers through plan pricing.

    As part of the merger, T-Mobile agreed to lock in pricing on its plans for three years, though it’s unclear what will happen after. Last year, the carrier introduced the similarly named Price Lock as a broad feature for most of its prepaid and postpaid mobile as well as broadband internet plans, but only new customers qualify.

    There are still a few other merger pledges stretching into the years to come. By the end of 2023, T-Mobile must provide 5G service to 97% of the population, and within six years 99%. The carrier must cover 85% of the rural American population by the end of this year, and 90% within six years. But beyond that, it’s unclear what T-Mobile has in store for consumers.