Google plans to bring new AI-powered tools to its suite of Workspace apps. In a blog post on Tuesday, the search giant said it’s starting by testing generative AI writing features in Gmail and Docs that can help people get started on the writing process.
“Simply type a topic you’d like to write about, and a draft will instantly be generated for you,” reads Google’s post. “With your collaborative AI partner you can continue to refine and edit, getting more suggestions as needed.”
The tool, Google suggests, can be used to help create things like customized job descriptions or invitations for a kid’s birthday party. The company is also exploring ways to incorporate AI tools into Slides, Sheets, Meet and Chat.
Google is one of a number of companies testing generative AI capabilities in its services after OpenAI’s ChatGPT kicked off an AI boom in late 2022. Earlier this year, Microsoft launched a new AI-powered Bing, and Meta is experimenting with AI-powered chat on WhatsApp and Messenger, while Grammarly is set to launch an AI feature designed to craft email messages, social media posts and more.
The new AI tools for Google’s Workspace apps will initially be available to a “limited set of trusted testers” before becoming available to the public, Google said in the blog post. The features are expected to start rolling out to testers in the coming weeks.
“When it comes to delivering the full potential of generative AI across Workspace, we’re just getting started,” Google said.
Google also introduced new AI tools for developers and businesses on Tuesday, including an app builder that will help companies launch their own AI chatbots.
Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to create some personal finance explainers that are edited and fact-checked by our editors. For more, see this post.
The smartphone market continues to grow, and big brands like Apple, Google and Samsung aren’t the only ones with something to offer anymore. OnePlus makes some of our favorite phones for those looking for a budget-friendly alternative that doesn’t sacrifice tons of power or features, and right now you can snag one at a serious discount. Amazon currently has the OnePlus 10 Pro on sale for as low as $550, which saves you $250 compared to the usual price. Without a set expiration, there’s no telling how long it will be available. Be sure to get your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.
The 10 Pro is a bit older than the OnePlus 11 — the latest model in its flagship lineup — but still has tons to offer and costs over $150 less. It’s equipped with a first-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 processor, and the 128GB model comes with 8GB of RAM. Or you can upgrade to the 256GB model which comes with 12GB of RAM and is on sale for $640 ($230 off). Plus it has 5G connectivity for speedy cellular performance.
The screen is a 6.7-inch QHD with a 120Hz refresh rate, and it features an impressive 50MP camera co-developed by Hasselblad with a 150-degree field-of-view. It’s powered by the Android 12 operating system, but is compatible with Amazon Alexa for hands-free assistance. It also supports ultra-fast 65W charging, and has a 5,000-mAh battery that lasts all day. It’s also worth noting that the OnePlus 10T, which features small upgrades and slightly different specs, is on sale for $500 at the moment, which saves you $150.
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With improved ANC, intuitive touch controls and Find My support, Apple’s latest AirPods Pro are solid all-round earbuds — especially at close to $50 off.
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Noise-canceling headphones are an essential accessory for anyone that commutes, works in a loud environment or just wants to shut out distractions and focus on the music. Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 are our favorite noise-canceling earbuds, and right now you can snag a set at a huge discount via Amazon. With $49 off versus the Apple Store price, the second-gen AirPods Pro are down to within $1 of their lowest price ever there. Best Buy and Target are matching the deal, too.
The AirPods Pro 2 have active noise cancellation that’s twice as powerful as that of the first-gen model, adaptive transparency and personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking for immersive sound. They have four different-sized eartips and provide up to 6 hours of listening time, plus up to 24 hours extra listening time with the included case.
Touch controls let you swipe to adjust volume, press to control media playback, answer or end calls and switch between listening modes. The earbuds and charging case are both sweat- and water-resistant, making them ideal workout earbuds, and the charging case is MagSafe-compatible with a lanyard loop to help you not lose them. Find My support is built-in if you do, though.
A cheaper, faster sibling of Sony’s $900 InZone M9 4K HDR gaming monitor, the 27-inch InZone M3 incorporates a solid 240Hz 1080p screen for its $530 ( 699) price tag. In addition to its unique design, the M3’s most notable novelty is PS5 support for Auto HDR, which maps SDR games to HDR, and Auto Genre picture mode, which switches profiles from game-optimized and low-latency to movie-optimized when you launch them. It also supports HDMI 2.1 which seems like overkill for a 1,920 x 1,080 (FHD), barely HDR screen, but future proofing is always welcome — provided it doesn’t add a lot of cost.
Otherwise, the screen is comparable to models like the BenQ Mobiuz EX270M, Acer Nitro XV272, Acer Predator XB273 and a handful of others. They’re older models but slightly cheaper and lack the HDMI 2.1 and the PS5 automation. The M3 is discounted through early April to just below $500, which brings it more into line with the competition. (The M9 is also discounted over the same period, for $100 off its standard $900 price.)
You’re receiving price alerts for Sony InZone M3 (SDMF27M30)
Like
HDMI 2.1 with VRR support for PlayStation
Good sRGB accuracy
Don’t Like
Looks good but the connection locations and cable management aren’t
Awkward stand that doesn’t swivel
It has an identical design to the M9, which means it’s equally annoying. Striking, since it uses similar materials to the PS5 but with a more angular aesthetic common to PC gaming displays, but awkward. The metal rear legs of the stand don’t look substantial, though they are.
Sony InZone M3 (SDMF27M30)
Price
$530
Size (diagonal)
27 in. (69 cm)
Panel and backlight
IPS with LED edgelight
Flat or curved
Flat
Resolution and pixel density
1,920 x 1,080 81.6ppi
Aspect ratio
16:9
Maximum gamut
99% sRGB
Brightness (nits, peak/typical)
400/400
HDR
DisplayHDR 400
Adaptive sync
G-Sync
Max vertical refresh rate
240Hz (DisplayPort and HDMI)
Gray/gray response time (milliseconds)
1ms (overdrive)
Connections
2 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x USB-C (with DP)
Audio
3.5mm out
VESA mountable
Yes, 100 x 100 mm
Panel warranty
1 year
Release date
January 2023
There’s a tiny plastic hook that can hang off one of the thin legs through which you’re supposed to feed your cables. It’s not large enough to accommodate a few thick ones though and really feels flimsy. And while setup is straightforward, it’s unnecessarily inelegant. You need a screwdriver and the included loose screws to attach the legs — at the very least make them captive — and it’s hard to insert the connections because they’re in a recess that requires some contortion to get them into, especially if you have stiff, thick cables.
That slanted leg is striking looking, but not very practical.
Lori Grunin/CNET
That unusual slanted foot also makes it notably difficult to get to the DisplayPort connection and prevents the screen from being able to tilt forward. Most stands let you tilt about 5 degrees toward you, which can come in handy if you’re trying to avert glare. The design also precludes swiveling, which is annoying in a multimonitor configuration and doesn’t allow for putting things on your desk beneath the screen, such as shoving your keyboard there.
It really begs to be mounted on an arm, but at that point it looks pretty much the same as every other monitor out there.
The connectors are in one of those traditional, hard-to-reach recesses in the back of the screen.
Lori Grunin/CNET
In addition to the dual HDMI 2.1 connections, it also supports USB-C for display. It’s got stereo two-watt speakers, which sound about as good as you’d expect; that is, if you expect them to sound tinny and low volume and only good for simple system sounds.
I thought Sony would have fixed the small irritation in the onscreen display, where it defaults to one of the least-needed menu entries — DDC on/off, and a level down — which makes navigating through the menus tedious if you have to do it a lot. Thankfully, everything in the OSD is accessible via Sony’s pretty well designed InZone Hub software.
Like the M9, the M3 has a built-in KVM switch, which means the USB ports depend upon the active input. That’s a perk if you’re connecting to two different systems or a PC and a console, and easy to set up in the software. The input scanning looking for an active connection seems to take a little longer than normal, though, and I got some unexpected resets (where it decides to recheck its connection) — such as between benchmark tests — that I’ve only seen with the Sonys.
Performance
The monitor performs well, with solid behavior at 240Hz and what seems like is the claimed 1ms gray-to-gray pixel refresh, and delivers excellent sRGB color accuracy in its Standard and Game 2 profiles but not in its default Game 1. (How we test monitors.)
Color measurements
Gamut (% of P3)
White point
Gamma
Brightness (nits)
Accuracy (DE2K average/max)
Default (Game 1)
82 (111% sRGB)
7800K
2.3
245/360 (peak)
3.83/8.3
sRGB (Standard)
n/a (111% sRGB)
6300K
2.2
265
1.92/5.07
Cinema
82
6300K
2.4
337
n/a
HDR
87
6450K
n/a
473 (10% and full screen)
n/a
It nominally supports high dynamic range — it’s DisplayHDR 400 certified — but that just means it has a little extra brightness headroom and can do the math needed to display HDR content or map SDR to HDR. It doesn’t make that much of a visual difference, partly because the black isn’t dark enough. The best contrast it could hit was about 2500:1, which is good in general but not great for HDR. On the bright side, I didn’t see any light bleed around the edge as is common with edgelit backlights.
Game mode measurements
White point
Gamma
Brightness
Contrast (static)
FPS
7850K
2.1
304 nits
861
Game 2
6300K
2.2
267 nits
1185
I’m not a huge fan of 27-inch 1080p screens for nongaming use because of their low-pixel density, only about 82 pixels per inch, because even my aging eyes object to the visible pixel grid. But it’s okay for gaming because there are rarely any single-pixel-wide lines. If you want something for long workdays as well as gaming, and you don’t need the 240Hz or HDMI 2.1 (you can still use it with a console), do your eyes and wallet a favor and get a 2,560 x 1,440 (1440p) 165Hz model.
It’s a pretty good monitor, but the InZone M3’s screen doesn’t distinguish it from the small pack of 240Hz 1080p options and its stand doesn’t help make a case for it. Overall, it’s a solid choice, especially if you can find it for a more competitive price.
A SpaceX executive said Monday that the company will start testing satellite-to-cellular communications this year, which will reportedly include operating on T-Mobile’s network. T-Mobile announced in August that its mobile network dead zones would get coverage from SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, but it didn’t say when that would happen.
At the Satellite Conference and Exhibition 2023, SpaceX VP of Starlink enterprise sales Jonathan Hofeller made the comment during a panel. The tests will include satellite-to-cellular service with T-Mobile, CNBC reported.
While it’s still not clear when T-Mobile customers will be able to benefit from Starlink coverage, it’s the first update since the carrier debuted its SpaceX partnership. That could mean they have the lead, as it’s not clear when AT&T’s network will get augmented by satellite provider AST Mobile, and Verizon’s chosen partner — Amazon’s Project Kuiper — has yet to launch a satellite into orbit.
The Satellite Conference’s panel attendants were reportedly optimistic about the growth of satellite-to-cellular communications despite how few consumers benefit from the technology. iPhone 14 users are some of the only smartphone owners who can use satellite communications using Apple’s Emergency SOS service. Samsung has its own solution in the works, though the phonemaker hasn’t announced which satellite network it will partner with.
Starlink has grown to “well over a million users,” Hofeller said, and SpaceX is building six next-generation satellites a day to add to the company’s constellation of around 4,000 satellites currently orbiting the planet.
Iridium CEO Matt Desch, who was also on the panel, touted the company’s partnership with Qualcomm for its upcoming Snapdragon Satellite service, as well as its “plan to evolve beyond just cell” to service computers and cars, CNBC reported.
T-Mobile declined to comment on SpaceX’s Starlink testing and hasn’t given a timeline for when satellite coverage will be added to its mobile network. SpaceX didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The latest model in Apple’s sleek MacBook Air lineup is here, and we’ve named it the overall best laptop on the market right now for most people. Equipped with the new cutting-edge M2 processor, it’s lightweight and powerful, though not the most affordable model out there with a starting price of $1,199. But while deals on the latest Apple devices aren’t exactly common, there are a few discounts available that can knock as much as $150 off the starting price.
Dan Ackerman/CNET
The M2 chip inside allows for a performance bump of up to 40% and battery life as long as 18 hours, according to Apple. It also has a slightly larger display than the previous-gen model, up to 13.6 inches from 13.3 inches.
All of those improvements do come at a cost, though, as the MacBook Air M2’s price starts at $100 more than its predecessor. For that reason, it’s well worth trying to score a MacBook Air M2 deal where possible. We’re keeping tabs on any and all M2 MacBook Air savings we see below.
B&H is offering the best discount out there on the MacBook Air M2 at the moment, and has knocked $150 off the midnight color variant, dropping the starting price down to $1,049. The retailer also offers a neat way to save on sales tax, too, with its own-brand B&H Payboo credit card that gives you the tax back as cash. On a purchase as large as a MacBook Air, that could be a decent chunk of change.
Some configurations are currently sold out at Amazon, but if you’re looking for the space gray color variant, you can save $50 on the base 256GB model, or $80 on the 512GB model, dropping the prices down to $1,149 and $1,419.
Apple is renowned for not offering direct discounts, but its education store offers a $100 cheaper price, plus discounted AppleCare coverage. If you’re not a student, you can still save by trading in your old MacBook (or any Apple device) for credit against your new one, or by using your Apple Card to spread the cost of your purchase while getting 3% cash back.
In the past, we’ve seen Best Buy offer as much as $200 off the MacBook Air M2, but there aren’t any discounts available at the moment. The retailer does have tons of different configurations in stock and has its own trade-in program, where you can save hundreds in exchange for your old laptop from Apple, Microsoft, HP and other brands.
Adorama has offered direct discounts on the new MacBook Air M2 in the past, but doesn’t have any currently available. However, the retailer does have its Adorama Rewards program, which is free to sign up for and allows you to earn points to redeem as credit against future purchases.
March Madness is here. After a busy round of conference tournaments the men’s NCAA college basketball tournament — affectionately (and accurately) known as March Madness — gets underway this week. The First Four play-in games will be taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday before the tourney’s First Round kicks off on Thursday and Friday. And for the following three weeks, college basketball fans will be treated to small-school Cinderella runs and bracket-busting buzzer-beaters.
Here’s everything you need to know to get ready for March Madness, from the First Four to the Final Four and the National Championship game.
The University of Kansas is the defending NCAA men’s basketball champion, and the Jayhawks will enter the 2023 tournament as one of the top seeds.
Ed Zurga/Getty Images
When does March Madness start?
With 68 teams invited to the big dance, the NCAA holds four play-in games to get the field down to 64, after which point the math works out to have four regional tournaments of 16 teams each. The winners of the four regional tournaments then advance to the Final Four, held this year in Houston.
March Madness begins on Tuesday, March 14, with two play-in games followed by two more play-in games the next night. After these First Four games, the field of 64 is set and the tournament begins in earnest on Thursday, March 16, with a full slate of games that will take place all afternoon and into the night with at least a few moments of madness practically guaranteed.
Which teams are playing in March Madness?
The March Madness bracket and matchups were revealed on Sunday. Alabama, Houston, Kansas and Purdue are the top seeds in their respective regions.
The First Four play-in games will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. Here is the schedule and who each winner would face in the First Round.
Tuesday, March 14:
SE Missouri State vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 6:40 p.m. ET (3:40 p.m. PT) on TruTV; winner plays Alabama
Pittsburgh vs. Mississippi State, 9:10 p.m. ET (6:10 p.m. PT) on TruTV, winner plays Iowa State
Wednesday, March 15:
Fairleigh Dickenson vs. Texas Southern, 6:40 p.m. ET (3:40 p.m. PT) on TruTV; winner plays Purdue
Nevada vs. Arizona State, 9:10 p.m. ET (6:10 p.m. PT) on TruTV, winner plays TCU
How can I watch March Madness?
As in past years, the tournament will be shown across four channels: CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV. Yep, the time has come again to find TruTV on your dial.
What channel is TruTV?
If the last time you watched something of TruTV was last March, then you might need some assistance finding it for this year’s tournament. Here’s a handy guide for some of the major cable or satellite TV providers:
The Final Four and National Championship game will air on CBS and stream on Paramount Plus.
Can I stream March Madness for free?
Go to the NCAA’s March Madness Live site or use its March Madness Live app and you’ll be able to watch games for free. You can watch March Madness Live on iOS and Android devices along with Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV and Xbox One. The app also supports AirPlay and Chromecast.
As with most things that are free, there’s a catch. Without proving you’re a pay-TV subscriber, you get only a three-hour preview, after which point you’ll need to log in to continue watching.
What are my other streaming options?
You can use a live TV streaming service to watch March Madness. Three of the five live TV streaming services offer the four channels needed to watch every tournament game, but keep in mind that not every service carries every local network, so check each one using the links below to make sure it carries CBS in your area.
You can also use Paramount Plus to watch some, but not all, of March Madness. Only the games shown on CBS are available on Paramount Plus.
YouTube TV costs $65 a month and includes CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV. Plug in your ZIP code on its welcome page to see which local networks are available in your area. Read our YouTube TV review.
Hulu with Live TV costs $70 a month and includes CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV. Click the “View channels in your area” link on its welcome page to see which local channels are offered in your ZIP code. Read our Hulu with Live TV review.
DirecTV Stream’s basic $75-a-month plan includes CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels are available where you live. Read our DirecTV Stream review.
Paramount Plus costs $10 a month for its Premium plan and will show March Madness games broadcast on CBS including the Final Four. You can’t, however, watch the rest of the tournament shown on TBS, TNT or TruTV with Paramount Plus. Read our Paramount Plus review.
FuboTV’s basic plan costs $75 a month and includes CBS but not TBS, TNT or TruTV. It’s not the best choice for March Madness but will let you watch some early-round games, the Final Four and championship game. Click here to see which local channels you get. Read our FuboTV review.
Sling TV’s $40-a-month Blue plan includes TBS, TNT and TruTV. None of its plans include CBS, which means you can’t watch the culmination of March Madness on Sling. Read our Sling TV review.
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.
Google on Monday laid out updates comings to its Pixel phones and the Pixel Watch, including bringing some useful camera tools to more devices.
In its first feature drop of 2023, Google said faster Night Sight — its feature for taking low-light photos — is coming to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro after launching on the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro last year. The company also reminded people that its Magic Eraser tool for removing unwanted objects from images is now available on all Pixel phones.
Google said people will be able to further customize audio and visuals on the Pixel Watch in the “coming weeks,” including new “color-correction and greyscale modes” to meet a wider range of display preferences. The company also called out fall detection on the Pixel Watch, which Google said last month has been tested to tell the difference between a hard fall and exercise movements.
Other features Google highlighted in this latest feature drop are expanded availability of Direct My Call — a feature that lets you see phone menu options ahead of time for toll-free calls — to the Pixel 4A and newer as well as a feature that shares timers set on Nest smart home devices to Pixel phones, and lets you stop them without having to unlock your phone.
Amazon is launching its latest game integration with Alexa Game Control support built into Dead Island 2, an upcoming open-world zombie game expected in late April. I got to play around with a preview version of the game, using a headset mic to issue commands and taunt zombies.
Alexa Game Control doesn’t require an Amazon Echo device. Instead you use a desktop mic, your PC’s built-in mic, or a headset, although you have to link the game and your Amazon account. Setup, via a QR code, was simple, and you can set up voice commands to work as push-to-talk, tap once to talk or just leave the mic hot full time. I went with the simple push-to-talk option, which uses the B key by default. Besides PCs, Xbox will also be supported.
This isn’t my first shot at voice-powered gaming. I recall being floored by the potential of a 2002 game called Star Trek Bridge Commander, which promised gamers the chance to issue verbal commands to the crew of your ship. After buying a headset mic and hooking it up to my 2002-era PC, the novelty wore off quickly. Voice commands worked, but it ended up being much easier to use keyboard commands instead.
Deep Silver
In 2023, the situation feels similar. I tried Dead Island 2 with Alexa’s voice commands and found a few useful cases, but was often stymied by the restrictive language needed. By far the best use case was drawing an idle zombie toward you by saying, “Hey zombie!” or something similar out loud. That way, I could pick off zombies one at a time from a larger group, instead of getting surrounded and chomped every time I turned a corner.
Locating and adding waypoints to map highlights, like workbenches and traders, is another option, but I found it much easier to just look at the in-game map to navigate. Weapon selection can also be done via voice, but the terminology is awkward. One useful tool is asking the game to auto-select your best current weapon, which keeps you from having to open a menu and compare stats. The final game will also have online co-op multiplayer, and voice commands can be used to trigger generic replies or moves like a dance or a thumbs up.
After several hours, I can say that Dead Island 2 looks and plays pretty great overall. It takes place in Los Angeles, so the Island part is a bit of a misnomer, but I enjoyed the satirical take on Hollywood cliches and all the in-jokes and sight gags. For the most part, the Alexa Game Control features didn’t add a ton of extra playability to the game, and I’m not sure I’d leave it on for the entire game. That said, the “Hey zombie!” command was very useful, and the voice command I used far more than any other.
Dead Island 2 is expected on April 21 for PC and consoles. It’s the first game supporting this new Alexa Game Command initiative, but Amazon says there are “more games to follow.”
