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  • NFL Divisional Round: How to Watch, Stream Cowboys vs. 49ers Without Cable

    NFL Divisional Round: How to Watch, Stream Cowboys vs. 49ers Without Cable

    The San Francisco 49ers haven’t lost a game since October and after a slow first half, they ran away with Saturday’s playoff opener against their NFC West rivals the Seattle Seahawks. The Dallas Cowboys, meanwhile, dominated Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night (despite some poor kicking) to continue their impressive season.

    The two teams will meet at the 49ers’ home in Santa Clara on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. PT (4:30 p.m. ET) on Fox.

    San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa rushes the passerSan Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa rushes the passer

    Nick Bosa and the San Francisco 49ers will take on the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

    Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

    How to watch Cowboys vs. 49ers without cable

    If you don’t have a cable or satellite TV subscription, you can watch the Cowboys-49ers game on Fox with a live TV service. The good news for football fans is that Fox is available on each of the five major streaming services. The catch is that not every service carries every local network, so check each one using the links below to make sure it carries Fox in your area.

    If you live in an area with good reception, you can watch the broadcast on Fox for free on over-the-air broadcast channels just by attaching an affordable (under $30) indoor antenna to nearly any TV.

    Sling’s $40-a-month Blue package carries Fox but only in a handful of areas.

    Read our Sling TV review.

    YouTube TV costs $65 a month and includes Fox. 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 Fox. 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, $70-a-month Entertainment package includes Fox. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels are available where you live.

    Read our DirecTV Stream review.

    FuboTV’s basic plan costs $75 a month and includes Fox. Click here to see which local channels you get.

    Read our FuboTV 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.

  • Best High-Tech Ski Gear for 2023

    Best High-Tech Ski Gear for 2023

    You’ll be hard-pressed to find sports that have cooler gadgets and tech than skiing and snowboarding. What makes it even better is that there’s such a wide range of equipment to choose from, including action cameras like GoPro to new goggles, helmets, gloves and ski-friendly accessories for iPhone and Android devices, as well as ski clothing that features high-tech material. This can make shopping for the best ski accessories a chore, which is where this list comes in.

    While a lot of the gear here is battery-powered, there’s plenty that isn’t. I’ll add more top ski gear products to this list as I test them.

    Best action cams for skiers

    Josh Goldman/CNET

    The Hero 11 Black, GoPro’s latest flagship camera, looks just like last year’s Hero 10 Black except for the number change. However, there’s a big change on the inside — a new larger image sensor — that enables a handful of features that will make the camera more attractive to pros, creators, casual users and even first-time GoPro buyers.

    CNET’s resident action cam expert, Josh Goldman, says that while the sensor’s size increase improves image quality some, it’s more about how GoPro is using the full sensor for 27-megapixel photos and 5.3K-resolution video with an 8:7 aspect ratio. With a high-resolution 8:7 aspect ratio, one clip can be edited to 16:9, 4:3 or 1:1, or vertical video at 7:8, 3:4 or 9:16.

    That means whatever your social media platform of choice is — YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok — the single clip can be edited to meet your needs. What’s even better is GoPro’s Quik app makes the whole process painless. Plus, with all the extra resolution, you can crop in and still have good-looking results.

    If you buy directly from GoPro.com and sign up for the GoPro subscription service — which is included with the camera — GoPro knocks $200 off, so it’s $350 (a year of the service, which costs $50 a year or $5 a month, is included for free).

    The subscription service gives you unlimited cloud backups at original quality, damaged camera replacement, discounts on GoPro accessories and gear and access to GoPro’s premium livestreaming platform. It’s a good value, which is why a lot of folks don’t cancel after the first free year.

    Read our GoPro 11 review.

    Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

    If you’re looking for an action cam that’s a little more compact and lighter than the GoPro Hero 11 Black (and more discreet overall), the Oclu is worth checking out. It shoots 4K but is best for capturing 1080p video and costs $200 (don’t be fooled by the coupon code saying you can get $100 off — the $100 discount is baked into the price on Oclu’s site). And while you can’t see it in the photo above, the camera does have an integrated LCD on top.

    Oclu also sells a Snow Bundle accessory kit for an additional $86 that includes a chest mount. And other accessory bundles are available.

    Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

    Josh Goldman, CNET’s action cam guru, thinks the Akaso Brave 7 LE is a very good value because it delivers good 4K video for less than $150 and it has a front display. The body is water-resistant but, along with a variety of mounts, two batteries, a charger and a wrist remote, Akaso includes a dive housing good to 40 meters (131 feet). A touchscreen on the back lets you tap your way through its simple interface to change modes and camera settings. A long press on the Mode button on top lets you switch to the front display so you can see yourself while you shoot.

    As for picture quality, you’ll want to keep this budget action camera set to 4K30 with the image stabilization and video quality set to high for the best results, though. Also, while it offers a solid mix of resolutions and frame rates, not all of them have image stabilization — including 1080p120 for slow motion.

    You’re receiving price alerts for AKASO Brave 7 LE 4K30FPS 20MP WiFi Action Camera with Touch Screen Vlog Camera EIS 2.0 Remote Control 131 Feet Underwater Camera with 2X 1350mAh Batteries

    Insta360

    Insta360 X3

    Best 360 action cam

    The Insta360 X3 is more of everything we liked about its predecessor, the One X2. The X3 is a small, waterproof 360 camera that creates immersive 360 videos and photos. But it can also be used as a single-lens action cam. Or you can use its powerful processing, clever accessories and its mobile editing tools to create clips ready for whatever social sharing site you choose. It’s a lot of camera for $450

    Read our Insta360 X3 first take.

    Best audio accessories for skiers

    David Carnoy/CNET

    The Aleck 006 earpieces slip into your helmet and can be used as wireless headphones for listening to music or as a headset for making calls. They offer decent sound but what makes them even more useful is if you link multiple Aleck 006 together and set up what amounts to a walkie-talkie system among friends or family members.

    With real-time GPS tracking in the Aleck Go app for iOS and Android, you can also map the location of everyone in your party.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Aleck 006

    Sarah Tew/CNET

    You’d think that more companies would have made Bluetooth headphones that slip inside your helmet, but Outdoor Technology is one of the few that does (some Chinese companies like Outdoor Master have gotten into the game in the last couple of years). Their appeal has waned now that true wireless earbuds have come along, but the Chips are now on their third generation with upgraded Bluetooth 5.2 and up to 13 hours of battery life — 3 hours more than what you get with the Chips 2.0, which can be had for around $90 or $40 less.

    How it works is you charge up the Chips and slide them into the earflaps on your helmet (they should work with most helmets). You want to make sure that no excess padding in your helmet is covering the Chips or else they’ll get muffled and you’ll lose some volume; you want them as close to your ears as possible.

    Like with their predecessor, I thought the sound quality was decent for Bluetooth but not great. That said, it’s nice to be able to stick your helmet on and have the headphones built-in with no wires to worry about. Battery life is rated at 10 hours, and the Chips are sweat- and water-resistant but not waterproof.

    Outdoor Technology also sells the Chips Ultra, a true-wireless version of the Chips that costs more (about $163). I don’t think the Ultras are worth the money.

    $130 at Amazon

    You’re receiving price alerts for Outdoor Technology Chips 3.0

    David Carnoy/CNET

    Battery Life

    Rated up to 9 hours

    Noise Canceling

    Yes (ANC)

    Multipoint

    No

    Headphone Type

    Wireless Earbuds

    Water-Resistant

    Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)

    There are several compact, lightweight earbuds that work well under helmets, including the AIrPods Pro and and Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. I personally like Sony’s LinkBuds S, which are comfortable to wear and offer very good sound and noise canceling along with a good transparency mode so you hear the outside world around you when you’re not listening to music. While they list for $200, they often go on sale for less than $150.

    Read our Sony LinkBuds S review.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Sony LinkBuds S (Black)

    David Carnoy/CNET

    Battery Life

    Rated up to 7 hours

    Noise Canceling

    Yes (Adaptive)

    Multipoint

    Yes

    Headphone Type

    Wireless earbuds

    Water-Resistant

    Yes (IPX5 — protection against low-pressure water streams)

    Samsung-owned JBL has a couple of relatively new sets of earbuds, the Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 that are surprisingly good and affordable when they are on sale (which is often). Both are equipped with the same 11mm drivers, six microphones, oval tubes and oval silicon tips. And they also combine a comfortable fit along with strong noise canceling, very good sound quality and voice-calling performance, plus a robust feature set, including multipoint Bluetooth pairing, an IPX5 splash-proof rating and wireless charging.

    Aside from the design — The Live Pro 2 has stems while the Live Free 2 is pill-shaped and slightly better suited for helmet wear — the biggest difference between the two buds is battery life. The stemless Live Free 2 are rated for up to seven hours, while the Live Pro 2 are rated for 10 hours. Both are IPX5 water-resistant, which means they can be hit with a sustained spray of water and shouldn’t have a problem surviving a drop in the snow.

    Read our JBL Live Free 2 first take.

    You’re receiving price alerts for JBL Live Free 2 (Black)

    Wearable ski coach

    Florian Breitenberger

    Private lessons have gotten really expensive, so why not get a virtual one?

    Carv is a digital ski coach that combines some hardware that you attach to your boots with an iOS app (Android coming soon) that delivers real-time feedback about how you’re skiing. I’m still waiting to try this out but have had friends use it and really like it. In 2021, the software was updated to version Ted Ligety 2.0 with some small hardware enhancements, including a more compact battery with the same battery life.

    For better or worse, Carv has moved to a subscription model that makes the hardware less expensive (the original kit is now $149 instead of $349), but requires you to purchase an add-on subscription for $199 a year or $298 for a two-year plan. That’s still a lot less than what a single full-day private lesson would cost you at most resorts — at least in the US.

    The company has also partnered with two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time World Alpine Ski Champion Ted Ligety to develop a new program called “Train with an Olympian,” which offers personalized coaching from Ligety to help transform your technique, whether you’re a beginner, advanced skier or something in between. The Carv subscription includes Ligety’s training program, Carv’s real-time audio coaching, video coaching and its library of off-snow content.

    Top high-tech helmets for skiers

    David Carnoy/CNET

    Helmets with integrated lens shields or goggles have become popular in Europe in recent years, and Giro makes one of the best ones with its Orbit helmet that also comes in a version for women called the Aria (it looks very similar but has different colored trim elements). While these types of helmets tend to be expensive, they’re good for people who wear glasses or just like the convenience of eye protection integrated into a helmet design — you can rotate the articulating “shield” up onto the helmet or tilt it down over your face. It’s also worth noting that the large Vivid lens (with optics by Zeiss) provides a very wide field of view.

    Unlike some shields that have an open design at the bottom, this one has a foam liner and is designed to sit on your face like goggles, though the seal isn’t quite as tight as a typical pair of goggles. There’s good ventilation and the helmet is very comfortable to wear, with a Polartec “Power Grid” padded lining that helps with moisture management. Like many of Giro’s helmets, this one also incorporates the company’s custom Spherical MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection) technology.

    The included lens shield is designed to work well in a variety of conditions (it is replaceable for $125). It does a very good job staying fog-free on nonstorm days, but I can’t guarantee that it won’t fog at times on big snow days, which can be challenging for most goggles (particularly if you wear glasses or prescription lens inserts with your goggles). That said, it’s an excellent helmet overall.

    Sarah Tew/CNET

    In the past, I’ve highlighted Smith’s Vantage helmet, which has a visor. The Code is more oriented toward snowboarders and free riders, but a lot of mainstream skiers like its streamlined look.

    Smith didn’t change anything in this year’s model from last year’s — except for the color options. It packs in most of Smith’s latest technologies. On the inside, instead of hard foam you’ll find Koroyd inserts that, from the top, look like a honeycomb with circular (not hexagonal) cylinders. The high-tech material is made of lightweight, eco-friendly polymer extruded tubes that are thermally welded together to form a strong layer of protection that also allows for good airflow. (Smith has added other materials and design elements to the helmet and is calling the whole protection package Aerocore construction.)

    Beyond the fancy padding, there’s the BOA FS360 fit system (with a 360-degree halo design), which helps you get a snug, “custom” fit. And new this year: a Wayfinder strap system featuring Fidlock that’s basically a quick-release magnetic system that makes it easier to open and close the strap.

    The helmet only comes in a MIPS version, which offers increased protection. In a MIPS Brain Protection System, the shell and liner are separated by a low-friction layer that “allows the helmet to slide relative to the head.”

    $160 at Amazon

    You’re receiving price alerts for Smith Code MIPS Snow Helmet (Matte Clay Red, Medium)

    David Carnoy/CNET

    Giro says the “modern profile” of its Jackson helmet, which comes in multiple color options, utilizes the new Passive Aggressive Venting system that’s “inspired by the aerodynamic airflow of high-end autos.” Well, it’s a good looking helmet and also pretty lightweight and comfortable while offering MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection) technology.

    It doesn’t have the company’s upgraded Spherical MIPS technology found in its Emerge helmet ($150), this model has Giro’s Form 2 Fit system that allows you to dial in the fit of the helmet (it’s similar to Smith’s dial-in fit), which allowed me to get a more snug fit. The Emerge uses the company’s Stash Fit system that allows you to remove or add layers of padding to customize your fit.

    Both the Emerge and the Jackson are designed for maximum compatibility with Giro goggles but they work just fine with other goggles.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Giro Jackson

    David Carnoy/CNET

    Smith’s all-in-one helmet and goggles combo, the Survey, doesn’t feature Smith’s most high-end helmet and goggles technology… but it’s a comfortable midrange helmet with flip-down goggles and Smith’s ChromaPop lenses. The seal on the goggles will vary from face to face (some wind may leak through). I have yet to try this helmet in a storm and will update this entry when I do. It is currently on sale for $208, which is a good deal, but only the black color remains.

    Atomic

    Atomic’s new Redster CTD helmet is pricey but has some cool features that may someday find their way into more helmets. Inspired by Atomic’s pro racing helmets, this model has sensors that assess any damage after the helmet takes a hit. You get a report on your helmet’s condition via the Atomic Shocksense app for iOS and Android. Also, if you slam into something hard enough and the helmet takes heavy damage, it will automatically send SOS alerts out to your emergency contacts.

    As far as protection goes, it’s serious. Atomic says the Redster CTD’s Atomic Multi-directional Impact Deflector (AMID) dual-density foam system absorbs shock from all angles to deliver 30% higher impact protection than International Ski Federation standards require. It’s available in black, red and white.

    Best cell-phone accessories for skiers

    David Carnoy/CNET

    When your phone gets too cold its battery drains faster, and if it’s really cold, it might shut off. That’s where the Phoozy comes in.

    A simple sleeve or “capsule” for smartphones, the Phoozy has a Chromium Thermal Barrier Shell and SpaceTech Penetration Layer, as well as a bit of velcro to keep it closed at the top. That will help keep your phone warm on extra cold days and help preserve battery life. It will also keep your phone from overheating.

    Phoozy pouches now come in a few different versions and sizes and start at $30. Just make sure to get one that’s big enough to hold your phone.

    David Carnoy/CNET

    Infinity Lab is Samsung-owned Harman Kardon’s new accessories subsidiary and I like its InstantGo 5000 and InstantGo 10000 power banks, which come with an integrated Lightning cable for easy iPhone charging. The larger 10,000-mAh version costs $20 more and is heavier and bulkier, but it can charge most iPhones twice.

    You’re receiving price alerts for InfinityLab InstantGo 10000 – 10000mAh Power Bank with Integrated Lightning Connector – White

    David Carnoy/CNET

    You don’t want your phone to go dead on the mountain so it’s always good to pack a battery pack.

    MyCharge calls its new line of magnetic power banks Superhero MagLock, implying that they’re real saviors. I was impressed by their design. Not only do the batteries, which come in various capacities, have strong magnets and stick really well to the back of your iPhone 12 or 13, but they have raised coils, which are supposed to help reduce heat levels while charging. It does seem to work.

    The 3,000-mAh battery ($35) is lightweight and slim and is nice to have around for some emergency charging. However, it won’t get you a full charge, so you’ll probably want to step up to one of the higher-capacity options like the 6,000-mAh model, which retails for $60 but is currently being discounted to $42. The 9,000-mAh version is beefy and feels like your phone is attached to a small brick — the battery and phone do fit in your hand nicely, but the combo certainly isn’t pocket-friendly.

    All the MagLock batteries charge Qi-enabled iPhones at 5 watts, although you can get faster charging if you go wired and use a USB-C-to-Lightning cable. I also liked how there’s a chime when the charging starts and your phone tells you how much juice is left in the battery pack (it’s tied into iOS 15). You can wirelessly charge Android devices as well but the MagLock won’t stick unless you have a metal ring on the back of your phone’s case (stick-on rings are available).

    You’re receiving price alerts for myCharge Portable Charger iPhone 14, 13, 12 & Mag Safe Cases – MagLock 6000mAh Wireless Magnetic Power Bank – Compatible with MagSafe Battery Pack, USB C Cable Input/Output – Pacific Blue

    David Carnoy/CNET

    What’s cool about Anker’s 622 magnetic battery is that it’s a wireless battery that has an integrated magnetic flap that converts into a stand. You won’t get fast wireless charging from this 5,000-mAh battery (it charges at up to 7.5 watts), but it’s slim and easy to carry around.

    It charges via USB-C and if you use a USB-C to Lighting to charge your iPhone, it will charge at a faster rate of 12 watts. That’s not as fast as what a 20-watt USB-C power adapter can deliver, but it’s faster than 7.5 watts.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Anker 622 MagGo magnetic battery

    David Carnoy/CNET

    Most new phones, including the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 series models, offer a decent level of water resistance. But if you want some added protection, Otterbox still sells its waterproof and shockproof Fre case — and the latest version is built for MagSafe accessories.

    The Fre case is also available for some Samsung Galaxy models but that version doesn’t feature MagSafe, a feature that adds $10 to the case.

    Top high-tech ski goggle options

    Sarah Tew/CNET

    The Smith 4D MAG googles are the company’s current top-of-the-line model and have seen a price increase from $280 to $320 (that said, sometimes they go on sale for closer to $250). They feature a wider field of view (25% wider than the I/O Mag, according to Smith) and a 5x antifog inner lens with AirEvac Integration Technology that helps reduce fogging. Changing the lenses is easy with the MAG system. Two levers release the lens, which adheres magnetically to the goggles. One low-light and one bright-light lens are included.

    David Carnoy/CNET

    The Marauder Elite is Spy’s latest and greatest model of goggles that features 60% more venting over the similarly styled Spy Ace goggles (another highly vented model). That makes it “nearly impossible to fog,” according to the company. They didn’t fog on me during my limited testing, but I still need to put them through a wider variety of conditions to confirm that.

    The goggles’ lenses adhere magnetically and can be easily swapped out (two lenses are included). These are over-the-glasses, or OTG-type, that are suitable for use with RX eyeglasses and have subtle notches in the temples to allow your glasses to fit better. Like Spy’s other premium goggles, these feature the company’s Happy lens tech, which it says is “scientifically tuned to boost mood and alertness while optimizing color and contrast.”

    They’re a nice pair of goggles and although they’re expensive, Spy has been having trouble keeping them in stock.

    Sarah Tew/CNET

    If you don’t want to pay upward of $200 for a set of Smith I/O goggles, there are plenty of more affordable alternatives, including those from Colorado-based Glade, which prides itself on making goggles that offer similar or better performance than high-end models from other companies for a lot less.

    The big deal is its Adapt 2 goggles include a Photochromic Flux lens for $149 (that’s up from $129 for the original model). This is a lens that changes colors according to the lighting conditions you experience. In other words, it’s the chameleon of lenses, and typically photochromatic goggles cost a lot more.

    Sarah Tew/CNET

    If you wear glasses, the $270 I/O MAG XL goggles are a good choice, albeit a fairly expensive one, though they sometimes go on sale.

    The MAG XL is Smith’s MAG lens change system featuring — you guessed it — magnets that let you easily swap out lenses, as well as a 5x antifog inner lens with AirEvac Integration Technology that helps reduce fogging. They come with two lenses.

    The Smith I/O MAG XL goggles come in several different ChromoPop lens colors.

    David Carnoy/CNET

    Bollé’s Torus goggles come in a version with a standard lens for around $120 (or less), but I tried the step-up version with the company’s high-contrast Volt lens, which is harder to find in stock. You get one lens with these goggles, but the Ice Blue Cat 3 lens (with a pink base tint) offers some flexibility in terms of what lighting conditions you can use it with. The goggles offer a wide field of view and good ventilation.

    David Carnoy/CNET

    Giro makes a couple of goggles in the $150 range, including the Method and Article. It describes the Method as having a “bold retro style” that’s been advanced with “the most modern technology.” It’s a comfortable goggle with a wide field of view and good venting that helps keep the goggles fog-free in most conditions (I haven’t met a goggle that’s truly fog-free in all conditions).

    Like the more rounded Article goggles ($170), the Method uses Giro’s Vivid lens with optics by Zeiss and a second lens is included. The Method is available in a few different color options.

    Sarah Tew/CNET

    Zeal goggles have excellent optics and a wide field of view, and many feature the company’s Rail Lock System that makes the lenses easy to change and the goggles easy to vent when you’re in hiking mode.

    The base models with standard lenses are pretty affordable, ranging from $109 to $159. Things get more expensive when you move to the Automatic Plus GB lens, which is photochromic and changes quickly with the lighting and works in any conditions. Add that Automatic Plus lens and the price goes up to $279.

    I like the Portal XL (on right), which also starts at $179 for the standard two-lens option. It has the widest field of view and is an OTG type that allows you to wear glasses.

    The new Hemisphere, starting at $109, has a spherical frame with upper and lower ventilation and triple-layer face foam and is available in a variety of lens options. It doesn’t have the RLS system, but the lens quality is quite good for the price.

    High-tech ski gloves and glove liners

    David Carnoy/CNET

    Eddie Bauer has entered the heated glove arena with its new-for-2022 Guide Pro Smart Heated gloves and mitts, which list for around $300. They feature Clim8 technology. I tried the mitts and found them to be comfortable. I like how the batteries have a rubber coating and seem better designed than some of the batteries I’ve seen in these heated gloves.

    David Carnoy/CNET

    These glove liners are equipped with Seirus’ Kinetic heat return system that it says amplifies your body heat 4 to 5 degrees and reflects it back to you for 20% more warmth. Of course, how warm your hands are will also depend on how warm the gloves are that go over these (they can be used as stand-alone gloves, but more for running in cold weather than skiing).

    David Carnoy/CNET

    If you’re looking for a little extra dexterity from your mittens, the Seirus Magne Mitt Heatwave Plus Soundtouch Summit might pique your interest. On the inside, you’ll find a Seirus Heatwave Plus glove liner. On the outside, each mitt has a slit that is sealed magnetically and is therefore easy to open with a tug to let your fingers out. The built-in liners do seem to help the warmth factor, and the mitt seems well constructed and durable. I did find that it runs slightly small so you may want to size up if, say, you fit a medium (like me) but can sometimes wear a large.

    They come in men’s and women’s versions, and there’s also a step-down model, the Magne Mitt Heatwave Plus ST Ridge that uses less premium materials and costs $50 less.

    David Carnoy/CNET

    The Dakine Baron Gore-Tex Index is one of the warmer mitts I’ve tried, though it does run slightly small (if you’re thinking about wearing a glove liner with it, you may want to size up). It has goat leather on the palms, a Gore-Tex waterproof insert and PrimaLoft Gold for insulation. This mitt also comes in a solid black color as well a trigger mitt version with a separate thumb and index finger.

    Sarah Tew/CNET

    Seirus’ flagship HeatTouch Hellfire gloves are available for $450 for men or women. The gloves haven’t changed for a few years, but the battery was upgraded last year to a more slimmed-down version with increased battery life.

    At the low-heat setting you can get up to 12 hours of battery life, with medium pegged at around 8 hours and high at 4 hours.

    It’s also available in a mitten for $475.

    Après-ski accessories

    David Carnoy/CNET

    After a day of shredding, your body will certainly appreciate a little percussion massage gun action. There are plenty of options available but we like the travel-friendly Theragun Mini because it won’t weigh your luggage down too much and is a great little massage gun for $199 that’s surprisingly powerful for its size.

    Like the other new Theragun models, the Mini is equipped with Quiet Force technology that allows the device to run just as powerfully but much more quietly than the previous generation of Theraguns. The Theragun Mini has three speed settings, ranging from 1,750 rpm to 2,400 rpm, and the battery lasts for 150 minutes of continuous use.

    The one notable downside to the Theragun Mini is that it only comes with one attachment, the standard ball head. You could buy other Theragun attachments a la carte because the Mini is compatible with all the same attachments that come with other models, but that brings the price up.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Theragun Mini – Handheld Electric Massage Gun – Compact Muscle and Deep Tissue Treatment for Any Athlete On The Go – Portable Percussion Massager with QuietForce Technology – 4th Generation – Black

    Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

    In case you don’t know what a shacket it is, it’s basically a shirt jacket combo, and this down-filled “baffled” version from Mountain Hardwear is pretty smart looking. You’re probably not going to ski in this jacket (except for maybe on a warmer spring day), but you might do a little drinking in it. And it’s also good for everyday use.

    The Stretchdown Light Shacket comes in four color options and packs down into a pocket for transport in a suitcase or bag.

    Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

    Available in multiple color options, Rossignol’s Chalet winter slippers are a little more rugged and warm than your typical slippers. But they’re easy to slide into after getting out of your ski boots and have enough insulation to provide decent warmth along with all-terrain grip bottom to keep you from slipping.

    Hyperice

    We named the original Hypervolt Go one of the best travel massage guns, and the upgraded Hypervolt Go 2 offers some small but notable improvements.

    The new features in the Hypervolt Go 2 include LED speed sensors, back button control and a battery-level LED band. The look has also changed. While the original Hypervolt Go is all black, the Go 2 now has an arctic-gray finish. The Hypervolt Go 2 also has improved the air flow and ventilation of the percussion gun. It remains lightweight, weighing in at 1.5 pounds, and has three speed settings along with Hyperice’s patented QuietGlide technology which makes the massage gun nearly silent. Like the Go, it comes with two head attachments (flat and bullet).

    You’re receiving price alerts for Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2

    Sunglasses for skiing

    Smith

    Smith’s XC sunglasses are retro remake from Smith’s 1983/84 Collection and feature a flip-up lens and “heritage styling dating back to the original Smith cross-country sunglasses.” The big modern upgrades here are Smith’s ChromaPop lens technology that includes smudge and moisture-resistant coatings and megol nose pads to keep the glasses securely in place. The XC is available in 5 color options.

    David Carnoy/CNET

    Constructed from Grilamid, a lightweight but very durable frame material, the Spy Helm Tech sunglasses are a modern take on glacier sunglasses that includes removable side shields so you can block both the sun and all the “haters” at the same time, according to the company (they turn into standard wayfarer sunglasses without the side shields).

    The sunglasses have hidden sweat channels in both the nose pads and inner temples for breathability and feature the company’s Happy Tech lens tech that it says is “scientifically tuned to boost mood and alertness while enhancing color and contrast.”

    True or not, I will say they fit comfortably, the optics were very good and I was indeed happy using them.

    Sarah Tew/CNET

    This is Smith’s goggles-sunglasses hybrid, the Wildcat ($200). Constructed with the same materials used in Smith goggles, the Wildcat glasses provide lots of eye coverage and good airflow but have the comfort of a more lightweight pair of sunglasses. The Wildcat sunglasses come with a bright-light ChromaPop lens and a secondary clear lens for flat-light overcast days and are available in three color options.

    $102 at Amazon

    You’re receiving price alerts for Smith Wildcat Sunglasses

    Top ski jackets

    David Carnoy/CNET

    Helly Hansen’s flagship $750 Elevation Infinity 2.0 technical shell jacket features the company’s LIFA Infinity Pro technology, its new waterproof, windproof yet breathable material that it says is the “first to-market to be made entirely without added chemicals.” Typically, waterproof jackets are chemically treated, but Helly Hansen says the Infinity’s “everlasting water-repellent protection never needs to be reproofed with chemical treatment after use.”

    For a shell jacket it offers good flexibility and doesn’t feel stiff. While it has a three-layer fabric construction and offers some warmth, it’s not insulated so in very cold conditions you’d need to wear another jacket underneath it, like the Lifaloft Air Insulated Jacket or Odin Stretch Hooded Insulator.

    The Elevation Infinity 2.0 comes in black and deep fjord (pictured) and, like other premium Helly ski jackets, also features its Life Pocket Plus, which uses Aerogel insulation to help keep your phone from getting too cold, thus preserving its battery.

    Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

    Year in and year out, Stio’s Environ Jacket is one of its best-selling products and one of the better shells I’ve tested. Available in several color options along with a companion ski pant, Stio says it’s revamped the Environ this year with “recycled fabric, improved fit and a host of features including a forearm RFID pass pocket, Cohaesive hood adjust and a reengineered powder skirt.”

    The jacket features Dermizax fabric that’s highly waterproof yet offers good breathability while protecting you from the elements. It also has just the right amount of amply sized pockets, and it isn’t too stiff. Like with all shells, on colder days, you’ll want to wear a warm mid layer or two under this jacket. The Environ is available in both men’s and women’s versions.

    Awesome midlayers for skiers

    Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

    Made with recycled insulation, the Fireball Lite is a lightweight jacket that’s relatively warm for how thin it is and also has stretch Thermo Grid side and underarm panels that allow for more comfortable range of motion. While it can be worn just as an outer layer (the integrated hood does help increase the warmth factor), It’s designed to be worn snugly and runs a little small. That tight makes it a good midlayer to wear under a shell or parka on colder days.

    Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

    Available in five different color options, Outdoor Research’s SuperStrand LT jacket features VerticalX SuperStrand synthetic insulation that’s lightweight and packs down nicely. I’ve tried the SuperStrand LT Hoodie ($20 more), and the first thing you notice about it is that’s it’s warmer than you think it would be given how light it is.

    Outdoor Research says that the new VerticalX SuperStrand insulation technology is made of “super-insulating polyester strands which have the best properties of down and synthetic” and “use the air to maintain their high loft and hold in warmth.”

    The jacket is also available in a women’s version. Both are constructed of eco-friendly Bluesign-certified materials.

    $199 at Amazon

    You’re receiving price alerts for Outdoor Research SuperStrand Lightweight Jacket – 4-Season Men’s Puffer Coat

    Ibex

    Ibex, which is known for its high-tech merino wool garments, describes its Wool Aire Hoodie as having “backcountry performance with frontcountry style.” Available in a few colors and both men’s and women’s options, it’s a puffy jacket that’s not all that puffy but is lightweight, comfortable (it has some stretch to it) and can be used as either a midlayer on cold days or outer layer on not-so-cold days.

    It’s constructed of eco-friendly Bluesign-certified materials and is wind- and water-resistant. Also worth noting: It packs up into its chest pocket, which makes it travel-friendly.

    Best packs for skiers

    Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

    Whether you’re skinning up the mountain or just doing laps on high-speed lifts, the Mystery Ranch D-Route is a lightweight yet durable pack that has two main pockets and comes in a couple of nifty color options. It’s also hydration reservoir compatible.

    Amazon

    This product comes at the recommendation of CNET editor Justin Jaffe, who lives in New England. He writes:

    “As Covid surged again this winter, I’ve taken up alpine touring: skinning up a mountain and skiing down. The benefits are considerable — you can often get by without a lift pass and it delivers a much more rewarding cardio workout than pure downhill skiing. This highly adjustable USWE backpack has become an essential tool for me, providing the right amount of space for gear as well as an insulated water bladder that has never once frozen up. And there is a strap and pocket for everything, from goggles to helmet to skis. Highly recommended.”

    You’re receiving price alerts for USWE Flow 16L Backpack

    Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

    If you’re looking for a very compact hydration pack with just enough room to fit some essential gear, the Camel Back Zoid is a good option, CamelBak also makes step-up packs that are larger, the Powerhound 12 and Snowblast 22.

    The Zoid comes in multiple color options and is currently on sale for 25% off with the code CYBER25.

    Satellite communicators

    Garmin

    Don’t have a new iPhone 14 with Emergency SOS? Don’t worry: Garmin sells standalone devices that offer similar emergency satellite communications for backcountry skiers. The new inReach Mini 2 has the same compact, lightweight form factor but adds additional features, including a more energy-efficient processor that greatly improves battery life (now up to 14 days of battery life, using default 10-minute tracking, and your location is sent to your MapShare page for friends and family to view), a higher resolution display and user interface, as well as compatibility with Garmin’s Explore app and some new navigation features.

    Garmin says that while most users will interact via their phones or paired Garmin devices, you can still send a check-in, read incoming messages, and reply with either a pre-canned QuickText or write a custom message from the device itself.

    You do need an active satellite subscription to use the inReach Mini 2, with basic annual plans starting at $11.95 a month or $14.95 for a single-month subscription.

    For 2022, Garmin has released the InReach Messenger, which costs slightly less and has a monochrome display.

    Garmin

    Garmin says its new-for-2022 InReach Messenger is “built for those who want a quick and easy way to reach friends and family when outside cellular coverage and provides seamless satellite communication either as a standalone device or when paired to the new Garmin Messenger companion app.”

    It lists for $100 less than the inReach Mini 2 and is even more compact, weighing only 4 ounces. With a relatively affordable subscription plan, it provides global two-way texting, location sharing, SOS capabilities and more. One of its key features is the battery life: It’s rated for up to 28 days on a single charge.

    High-tech base layers

    Beringia

    If you’re looking for the ultimate Merino wool base layers, these tops and bottoms from Beringia may just be it. Diomede is Beringia’s proprietary fabric “that seamlessly knits multiple layers of fabric into one ultrastretchy waffle.” Real-world translation: The fabric is thin, lightweight and comfortable but also warm. The only downside is that tops ($150) and bottoms ($175) are quite expensive and there’s no deal if you buy both together, although you can get 15% off with your first purchase.

    Beringia Diomede base layers are available in a few color options and three sizes, as well as women’s versions. The top also comes with a snorkel hoodie for $25 more.

    Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

    Seirus makes excellent glove liners (and gloves) with its high-tech fabrics, three of which are featured in this premium base layer (it’s available in both a top and bottom and for men and women).

    As with any good base layer, the goal is to lock heat in while not trapping moisture. There’s a bit of spandex in the mix for comfort, and Seirus says the heat reflective properties of its Heatwave material are focused on certain parts of your body, particularly the chest area. I usually go with a Merino wool base layer, but this did help keep me warm on some very cold days in upstate New York.

    Face protection for skiers

    Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

    Seirus has a line of face coverings that feature the work of artist Lamont Joseph White that are certainly eye-catching. They come in a choice of headliner, combo hinged headline, balaclava and neck-up.

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    6:55
  • ChatGPT AI Threat Pulls Google Co-Founders Back Into Action, Report Says

    ChatGPT AI Threat Pulls Google Co-Founders Back Into Action, Report Says

    ChatGPT, the high-profile AI chatbot from OpenAI, is such a serious threat to Google’s core business that the company’s co-founders are reengaged with the search giant, The New York Times reported Friday.

    Startup OpenAI debuted ChatGPT in November, and within a few days more than a million people had begun prompting it with an enormous range of questions and requests. The artificial intelligence system has been trained on vast quantities of text on the internet and can answer questions, compose essays, write computer programs and generate all kinds of information.

    ChatGPT can sound authoritative, but it isn’t always right, and you can’t tell where it’s drawing its answers from. It’s impressive enough to be a viral hit on the internet, though, and it’s useful enough that Google reportedly declared a “code red” response to ChatGPT.

    Now, at the behest of Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Google parent company Alphabet, Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin are looking into the issue, the Times reported. They’d largely stepped out of day-to-day operating roles in 2019.

    Google has a rival AI technology called PaLM, but it hasn’t made that AI system available for public use. And it’s an AI pioneer, inventing the “transformer” technology that’s at the heart of large language models like PaLM and OpenAI’s ChatGPT foundation, GPT-3. In a blog post this week the company summarized several areas where Google is using AI, for everything from suggesting email replies to placing ads.

    Google didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Loup Ventures analyst Gene Munster sees ChatGPT, GPT-3 and large language models as a competitive threat.

    “One possible future is that these LLMs could be built into the backend of many of the tech services we use,” Munster said in a Friday report. “This is the outcome that could hurt Google in the long-term.”

    Ultimately, though, Google should be able to withstand the threat, he predicted. With four services that each have more than a billion users, and $60 billion in annual operating income from search, Google has “more than enough money to fund investments that will yield a ChatGPT competitor.”

    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.

  • How Video Games Help Me Endure the Winter Blues

    How Video Games Help Me Endure the Winter Blues

    Who among us is willing to leave the house in the dead of winter? If you can, I applaud you. But for many of us who live closer to the Arctic Circle than the Tropic of Cancer, late fall to early spring is designated the “indoor part of the year.”

    Not only is it dark and cold, but it often makes us miserable too. I live in Edinburgh and I adore this spooky, gothic city, but winters in Scotland are not for the faint-hearted.

    In late December, there are less than seven hours of sunlight a day, and even then it’s often so dreary that I eat my lunch by lamplight. As winter plods on into the murky months of January and February, I sense the cold creeping into my bones and setting up shop. It takes all my energy to resist the fatigue and listlessness that I can feel cajoling me into powering down my body and mind, persuading me I can afford to operate on standby mode until April.

    The older I get, the more sensitive I seem to become to every seasonal fluctuation in my environment. I do all that’s within my power to combat this — I exercise, take the strongest vitamin D supplements I can get my hands on, fine-tune my diet and turn my face toward the sun at every opportunity. It’s enough to keep me functioning, if not exactly thriving.

    But this year, I have a new weapon at my disposal: an awareness that the aesthetic experience of playing cozy games really helps take the edge off my winter blues. This increasingly popular gaming subgenre for the most part combines cute characters with open-world, aesthetically pleasing environments and various gathering, growing, nurturing, exploration or creative tasks to create a utopian gaming experience that’s perfect for pacifists.

    Like millions of others locked down during the pandemic, I first discovered the comfort of cozy games in 2020. I sank all my nonworking hours into playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Nintendo Switch.

    I’m not alone in finding serenity in the placid, peril-free worlds of cozy games, but it took me more time than you might expect to realize that I was using them as what the internet (and probably a therapist) might dub as a coping mechanism. During lockdown they were a convenient substitute for socializing and being outside. Now, when lockdown is over but SAD season is upon us, it replaces daylight and… being outside.

    There’s no sweeter gaming experience than A Short Hike.

    A Short Hike

    I only understood the full extent of the impact of cozy games on my mental wellbeing after sinking several months at the tail end of 2022 into Disney’s Dreamlight Valley, a life sim that — in spite of the endless fetch quests, frequent bugs, lack of updates and uncanny similarities to Animal Crossing — I persist in playing.

    My misgivings about the game and how I’m choosing to spend my precious hours left on this Earth aside, time spent in sunny, jolly Dreamlight Valley genuinely buoys my mood. And I’m not even a “Disney adult.” I have noticed, though, that whenever the weather in the game shifts and the sky darkens, I immediately become indignant and morose.

    “Why is it raining?” I complained to my husband on more than one occasion. “I play this game to escape the rain, not to endure more of it.”

    As the Christmas break approached, I felt an overwhelming desire to spend my time off replaying the game Lake, which I first played last summer on Xbox Game Pass. I’m familiar with the seasonal tug toward specific cultural phenomena, primarily from my annual fall rewatch of Gilmore Girls, but this one was new for me.

    In Lake, you play as a young woman who returns from her big city corporate job to her small hometown in the Pacific Northwest for a couple of weeks to cover her father’s mail delivery job while her parents take a trip. Every day, you wake up, collect your mail from the post office and drive around the lake where the town is situated making sure people get their letters and parcels.

    A mail van driving past a lake.A mail van driving past a lake.

    What a beautiful day to deliver some mail.

    WhiteThorn Games

    At the end of the two weeks, as you’ve begun to connect (or in some cases reconnect) with the townsfolk, you have to decide between staying on in your dad’s job and returning to the rat race, effectively giving you the option to join the Great Resignation in game form. A romantic subplot may also sway your decision, as well as giving it the feel of a Netflix Christmas rom-com.

    This most gentle of gaming experiences isn’t for everyone, but the way the game forced me to slow down and spend time pootling through the forest in my van, watching the changing light over the eponymous lake, felt deeply meditative. In fact, it mirrored the feelings of contentment and tranquility I get when I head out into the forests and glens of Scotland almost every single weekend.

    As the winter draws in, these expeditions into the wilderness tend to fall by the wayside in favor of staying inside under a blanket. But the pull of the emotions I experience by standing quietly underneath a big sky doesn’t just vanish. In this regard, it makes perfect sense to me that while I was curled up on my sofa feeling melancholy about the weather, the thing I wanted to do most of all was to tumble back into the world of Lake.

    But as it had since left Game Pass, I felt compelled to resort to other options. I plumped for A Short Hike, a charming open-world exploration game on Nintendo Switch where you play as a little bird who hikes up a mountain before soaring back down on the wind. I played it through one early January weekend, soaking up the sweetness of the story and joy of exploring the landscape, before feeling it carry me through the following week.

    Since then, I’ve become immersed in the world of Stardew Valley. Even though I was rather put out to find myself equipped with a sword for swatting bugs — not exactly in the spirit of cozy games — I’ve been swept up in watching the seasons change throughout my bucolic farming life.

    I know as the seasons change for real and I emerge from the fog of winter, these games will probably fall by the wayside in favor of genuine outdoor pursuits. But I’m also comforted by the knowledge they’ll be waiting for me the next time the clocks go back in October. When the world seems depressing and grim, they’ll be there to provide me with a little solace, making those dark, cold months feel a little less scary and a little more bearable.

  • The Price of These Jabra Elite Active Earbuds Was Just Slashed in Half

    It’s difficult to think of earbuds that can beat out AirPods, but that’s exactly what we found when we tried out the Jabra Elite Active 65t. When the earbuds first came to market in 2018, they fared better in sound quality than AirPods.

    The sporty earbuds came to the market at $100 and have dropped down to $67 on markets like Amazon. But now you can get it at an even lower price on Woot, where the earbuds are just $50. That means you’ll save $50 while sporting some quality earbuds.

    The earbuds offer up to 15 hours of use with up to 5 hours of battery on a single charge. They fit into a pocket-friendly charging case that you can carry with you. With four built-in microphones, these earbuds offer great in-class call performance.

    You can personalize your sound by using the Jabra Sound plus app. There are no audio dropouts, so you won’t have to worry about audio dropouts and there won’t be wires getting in the way of workouts. Plus, they have an IP56 sweat-resistance rating.

  • Apple’s Best AR Strategy for Now: Build on the Meta Quest

    Apple’s Best AR Strategy for Now: Build on the Meta Quest

    Apple’s first-ever VR-AR or “mixed reality” device is expected this year, and already its follow-up product seems to be on hold. According to Bloomberg’s reliable Mark Gurman, a planned set of AR glasses isn’t coming from Apple anytime soon. That’s OK: AR glasses don’t seem like they’re imminent from anyone.

    After a trip to Las Vegas to try out some of the emerging technologies around future VR and AR headsets, one thing is increasingly clear: Everyone’s trying to figure out AR glasses, but everyone’s trying to perfect VR headsets. The difference between those two scenarios is bigger than you think.

    All-day AR glasses that are useful, work convincingly, have long enough battery life, work with your phone and function as actually legit prescription glasses haven’t materialized, although the pieces are coming into place. Companies like Meta have promised a decade-long path to these glasses. It turns out, maybe, that’s going to be the case for everyone else, too. I’ve seen smart glasses that look real but don’t do much, or glasses with AR that feel chunky and do some things, but don’t quite work with my vision and can’t figure out how to work with my phone yet. Chipmaker Qualcomm is working on this; Google, Apple and Samsung need to solve it someday, too.

    In the meantime, VR already has a very real and reasonably popular product that most families I know in the everyday world are familiar with: the Meta (formerly Oculus) Quest 2.

    Read more: The Quest 2 Is Still the Best VR Headset For Now

    That recognition is no small thing. I think of the Quest’s place in everyday life like the Amazon Echo was years ago: something odd that over time became familiar, normalized. Something reasonably priced, and good enough to do a few things actually well. The Quest 2 is basically a game console. Where Meta has struggled is figuring out how to expand that base beyond gamers.

    Oculus Quest 2 VROculus Quest 2 VR

    The Quest 2: recognizable, and an existing product category already.

    James Martin/CNET

    Following Meta’s playbook is something I expected Apple would do. Heck, I expect most companies are going to do it. The Quest 2 works just like most people imagine it will, or better. It’s a bit of instant magic that’s totally wire-free.

    The Quest 2 does have downsides. In fact, those problems emerge the more you use it. I find connecting with friends and social spaces gets weird and buggy, prone to lag, disconnects and way-too-basic avatars. The battery life is bad. For fitness apps, which the Quest 2 can do surprisingly well, it’s still not good at really managing sweat or keeping my glasses from fogging.

    Even though Meta wants the Quest 2 and higher-end, work-focused Quest Pro to open up new ways to work by creating virtual monitors around my laptop, the connections and display quality aren’t good enough to be more than a clever experiment most of the time. I can see my laptop keyboard with the Quest Pro’s passthrough cameras, but typing feels awkward and nowhere near as good as when I’m just on my laptop… and I can’t see my phone screen to check messages, either. The Quest can show me phone notifications like a basic smartwatch from a decade ago, but I can’t interact with them.

    These VR headsets can even do some basic AR, using passthrough cameras that “mix reality” to show the real world in fuzzier video, with VR layered on top. The effect is sometimes pretty amazing, and could even approach feelings I’ve had with early AR headsets like the Microsoft HoloLens 2.

    So where does that put Apple? Clearly, there’s a headset coming soon. And according to Bloomberg’s Gurman, the next goal after this first expensive headset is to work on a more affordable model. It’s like Meta’s approach to the Quest and Quest Pro, in reverse. And there are plenty of things Apple could focus on to make its entry into VR (and AR) worth the effort.

    razer-vr-2219razer-vr-2219

    Razer’s upcoming improved head straps for the Quest 2 show that comfort is still a needed work in progress for VR.

    James Martin/CNET

    Better comfort, better fitness

    The Quest 2 is already an affordable fitness device, and pairs with watches to show heart rate and fitness stats. Apple clearly has an advantage on time spent developing the Apple Watch, fitness and health tracking, and its Fitness Plus subscription video workouts, which also have overlaid fitness stats.

    Apple could emphasize workouts and fitness on its headset, with comfortable, breathable straps and face pieces that could feel better for exercise. Meta is starting to realize it needs to improve comfort for VR: A recent Razer partnership using head straps made by CPAP-maker ResMed shows a need for better materials. I’d expect Apple to make this aspect a key part of the headset’s advantages. There are other advantages, too. Apps like Beat Saber and Supernatural use music for fitness, and Apple already has all of Apple Music at its disposal.

    Connect better with laptops, iPads, phones, watches

    VR headsets right now have an extremely hard time working well with all the other things we have lying around us. I can’t get a Quest to connect nicely with my phone all the time. To work with my laptop, I need a specialized third-party app with its own thing I have to install on my laptop and turn on.

    Meanwhile, Apple has been focusing on handoffs and continuity across AirPods, HomePods, iPhones, Apple Watches, MacBooks, Apple TVs… all over the place. That’s what’s needed to make a VR headset seem seamless and integrated into other stuff. I want to check my watch in VR, or use it to control apps. Or use my phone, and also see the phone. Suddenly grab my laptop, and the headset connects. Incoming calls? No problem. Send myself things back and forth from my phone or laptop and get all the files and things I want, and not feel like I’m on a vacation from them. That’s what Apple’s headset could set out to achieve.

    That’s a best-case scenario. Much like the first Apple Watch and iPhone, the actual Day 1 functions of this headset might end up disappointing.

    Better social

    Even though the metaverse is on everyone’s minds, there aren’t many big social spaces in VR that work well. Microsoft’s Altspace is nice, but often feels empty. VRChat is wild, experimental, full of big features and ideas, and feels like a messy explosion that’s hard to jump into. Meta can’t get enough people into Horizon Worlds. Even when these platforms do work, for concerts or events, the limits on people who can attend at once, the lag and drop-off, not to mention the avatar limits, make it a trade-off versus any other way you could connect on a phone or laptop.

    Apple may not be able to solve this any better for larger-scale experiences, but for more intimate and several-person FaceTime-like moments, Apple could make shared experiences in VR work a lot better. Meta hasn’t perfected social VR yet, and someone needs to.

    Meta Quest Pro virtual reality headsetMeta Quest Pro virtual reality headset

    The Meta Quest Pro controller, like most VR controllers, has buttons and analog sticks. Is this the only answer?

    Scott Stein/CNET

    Can Apple make a better controller?

    The Quest 2 controllers are fine, but all of VR leans on the same game controller-like inputs for headsets. Apple’s headset could lean more on hand tracking, or wearable inputs like the Apple Watch. I’m curious if a more work-oriented controller or accessory can be created that makes the headset feel better for taking on apps beyond games. Meta’s working on a long-term, game-changing shift to neural input wristbands eventually, but it’s unclear whether this approach will end up succeeding.

    I’ve been trying out experimental haptic technology recently, trying to imagine how VR could think its way to new inputs. This headset feels like the biggest opportunity Apple’s ever faced to create a brand-new type of input device that could make a big impact on the landscape. If it’s done right, maybe it’ll be the input accessory that makes its future AR glasses, whenever they arrive, seem feasible.

    varjo-screenshot-2022-12-07-11-20-40-076.pngvarjo-screenshot-2022-12-07-11-20-40-076.png

    This is a capture of me in a Varjo XR-3 mixed reality, in a virtual kitchen, looking at myself through a window into the real room. Mixed reality can, in theory, be wild.

    Varjo

    Build out more interesting mixed reality

    For all the Meta Quest Pro promises to blend AR and VR with its mixed-reality capabilities, not many apps tap into its extras yet. I’ve seen some mind-blowing demos of mixed reality in VR with the ultra-high-end Varjo XR-3 connected to a PC, which at least showed me ways that a VR headset could begin to feel like a portal interconnected to my own home reality. Apple could start experimenting with more engaging AR moments in a high-end VR headset, and at least get the ball rolling on things that work in advance of whenever its AR glasses are ready, years from now.

    Smaller sessions in VR may make more sense right now

    VR is a thing I don’t use all the time, and that’s true for most people. Maybe that’s exactly where Apple should start. It’s not a given we’ll want to wear AR glasses everywhere, or even what those glasses would be good for. In the meantime, a VR headset at home that’s meant to be worn sometimes, but not all the time, is the place most of us feel safest to start. It’s why the Quest is something people actually use.

    It’s also a way to avoid dealing with questions of accommodating true prescription vision needs in everyday glasses, something no one’s succeeded in tackling, either. VR headsets sometimes need prescription inserts, but many just fit right over the glasses we already have. I prefer the easy-fit solution: I don’t need to make VR a thing I spend a whole day in. I’ll settle for a truly useful hour or two, and if Apple can make that hour or two even better than what we have now, that’s a big enough step forward for me.

  • Best Lenovo Laptop Deals: Save Big on ThinkPad, Yoga and Legion Models

    Best Lenovo Laptop Deals: Save Big on ThinkPad, Yoga and Legion Models

    If you’re holding onto a laptop that’s on its last legs and you know it’s time to get a new one, now is a great time to do so. Lenovo is extending its holiday deals with deep discounts on many of its laptops and two-in-one convertibles, including some that are less than half-price right now.

    You’ll find the latest flagship ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 and the new ThinkPad X13 Gen 3 on sale, but the best of the bunch might be the new ThinkPad T16 if you want a big-screen laptop that supplies a spacious 16-inch display with a tall 16:10 aspect ratio that gives you plenty of room to work. It also includes a CPU from Intel’s new 12th-gen (Alder Lake) processors. And for the gamer on your shopping list, check out the Legion 5 Gen 7 gaming laptop with RTX 3070 Ti graphics.

    Read more: Best Laptop Deals

    You’ll need discount codes for these Lenovo deals, which we’ve listed below, but the codes should appear on Lenovo’s website, too. We’ll keep this page updated with all the latest Lenovo deals.

    Lenovo

    Lenovo’s ThinkPad T series is second only to the company’s flagship X1 Carbon line in the ThinkPad pecking order. The ThinkPad T14s is a slimmer version of the ThinkPad T14, though not quite as thin as the flagship ThinkPad X1 Carbon. This AMD-based model is more than half off with code TPW2CLEAR2023 and features the new Ryzen 7 Pro 6850U CPU, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. The 14-inch screen has 1,920×1,200-pixel resolution, a roomy 16:10 aspect ratio and 300 nits of brightness.

    This ThinkPad X13 is another ultraportable option for those who can’t afford the X1 Carbon. The newest addition to the line is discounted with code THINKJAN and features a new 12th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. The 13.3-inch display has a 16:10 aspect ratio to provide more vertical space (so less scrolling) with a 1,920×1,200-pixel resolution and 300 nits of brightness. The webcam gets a bump from 720p to a 1080p resolution for improved video calls.

    Joshua Goldman/CNET

    Our favorite two-in-one laptop for the business set, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga boasts an abundance of hardware options and security features wrapped up in a thin, light aluminum frame. This model is more than half off with code TPW2CLEAR2023 and features a 12th-gen Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. It also features a 1080p webcam and includes the ThinkPad Pen Pro stylus. The 14-inch screen features a 16:10 aspect ratio for more vertical space than wider 16:9 screens and is rated for 400 nits of brightness.

    Sarah Tew/CNET

    This Legion gaming laptop boasts a roomy 15.6-inch display powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 6800H CPU and RTX 3070 Ti graphics. The display features a full HD resolution, a speedy 165Hz refresh rate and is rated for a sufficient 300 nits of brightness. You also get an acceptable 16GB of RAM and a spacious 1TB SSD. It’s $650 off with code GAMECYBER17.

    Lenovo

    This 13.3-inch two-in-one convertible features a roomy 16:10 display wrapped in a compact, all-aluminum enclosure powered by AMD’s stellar eight-core Ryzen 7 5700U CPU along with 16GB of RAM and a spacious 1TB SSD. With the 360-degree hinge, you can use the Yoga 6 as a laptop and tablet. The CPU is a generation behind AMD’s current Ryzen 6000 series, but it should provide ample oomph for general tasks. The resolution of the 720p webcam lags behind that of the newer 1080p cameras we’ve been seeing this year.

    Lenovo

    Two rungs down from the flagship X1 Carbon and one rung below the ThinkPad T14S on the ThinkPad ladder is the ThinkPad T14. A slightly bulkier body nets you a well-rounded configuration for a lower price. This new Gen 3 model was just introduced and is discounted with code THINKJAN. It features AMD’s new octa-core Ryzen 7 Pro 6850U CPU, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. The 14-inch, 16:10 display has a 1,920×1,200-pixel resolution and is rated for a reasonable 300 nits of brightness.

    Lenovo

    You can get Lenovo’s latest flagship ThinkPad at a steep discount with code THINKJAN. This model features a new 12th-gen Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB solid-state drive. The 14-inch display has a 1,920×1,200-pixel resolution along with a tall 16:10 aspect ratio, and it’s rated for a more than adequate 400 nits of brightness. One important upgrade the 10th-gen X1 Carbon received was a 1080p webcam for clearer Zoom calls and video conferences. Weighing roughly 2.5 pounds, the X1 Carbon makes for an easy travel companion. And having passed a series of MIL-SPEC tests, it’s rugged enough to stand up to the rigors of business travel.

    Lenovo

    The first 16-inch model in Lenovo’s ThinkPad T series, the ThinkPad T16 is heavily discounted with code THINKJAN and boasts a roomy 16-inch display with a tall 16:10 aspect ratio and a 1,920×1,200-pixel resolution. It features touch support and is rated for a sufficient 300 nits of brightness. It’s also one of the first ThinkPads with a CPU from Intel’s new 12th generation of Core chips. This model features the midrange Core i5-1240P CPU along with 16GB of RAM and a roomy 1TB SSD.

  • Best iPhone SE Deals: Save Up to $579 at Apple, Get $430 Off at Verizon

    While the iPhone 14 is the latest and greatest in Apple’s flagship lineup, it’s not the only iPhone worthy of attention. Last year, Apple also released the third generation of its budget-friendly iPhone SE series starting at just $429 — nearly half the price of the $829 iPhone 14.

    Even with its affordable price, the iPhone SE (2022) offers the same user-friendly interface and smooth performance you’ve come to expect from any product in Apple’s lineup. And with so many offers and deals from both carriers and retailers, you’ll have no trouble getting your hands on one at a discount. Some sellers are even offering a chance to grab the iPhone SE for free, though you’ll jump through a hoop or two to get those deals.


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    One of the biggest upgrades to the newest version of the iPhone SE is that it supports 5G, so you’ll be able to get faster data speeds while out and about (if you’re in a 5G-compatible area). Apple upgraded the processor to its A15 Bionic chip, and it has the same tough glass that’s used on the iPhone 14 series. It has the same overall size and design as the previous model, which means there’s a Touch ID sensor on the front. A 12-megapixel camera on the back is even more powerful thanks to the A15 processor.

    Four Apple iPhone SE models in red, white and blackFour Apple iPhone SE models in red, white and black

    Apple iPhone SE color lineup

    Apple

    Read more: Best iPhone SE Case for 2022

    How much does the iPhone SE cost?

    Base pricing for the iPhone SE (2022) starts at $429 ( 419, AU$719) for the base model with 64GB of storage. You can bump that up to 128GB for $479 or 256GB for $579.

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    What colors does the iPhone SE come in?

    The iPhone SE is available in midnight (black), starlight (white) and Product Red.

    Best iPhone SE deals

    While the newest version of the iPhone SE isn’t getting quite the same amount of attention as the iPhone 14, there are still plenty of great deals to take advantage of. Below, you’ll find our roundup of the best offers out there to help you snag the iPhone SE for less.

    Somewhat surprisingly, Best Buy doesn’t seem to be carrying any unlocked models of the iPhone SE. But if you’re a T-Mobile customer, there is an offer you can take advantage of. Customers who use T-Mobile as their carrier can save up to $215 in monthly bill credits on their new iPhone SE. Just note that you’ll have to add a new line of service, and choose the 24-month installment plan to get the discount. T-Mobile customers will also get an extra $100 in savings, on top of the usual value, when they trade in a used device.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Apple iPhone SE (64GB, Starlight)

    If you prefer to buy your new iPhone right from the source, you can do that with the iPhone SE. Apple has all the carrier models along with the unlocked one. And if you’re looking to ditch your old phone to switch to the new SE, Apple is offering up to $579 off with an eligible trade-in. With a base price of $429, that means that you could theoretically get the new SE totally free. If your trade-in value exceeds the cost of your new phone, you’ll receive an Apple Gift Card for the remainder. If your trade-in doesn’t cover the full cost, you can pay the remaining cost in full, or or split it into 24 months of interest-free payments when you use an Apple Card during checkout.

    While Verizon deals on upgrading existing lines are pretty slim right now, there is a great offer available if you’re looking to add a new line of service. When you buy an iPhone SE on a new line with any unlimited plan, you can save $430, which gets you the 64GB model for free. Just note that the discount will be applied in the form of monthly credits over a three-month period, even if you buy the phone outright.

    And as a bonus, Verizon is also offering a chance to get a free Apple Watch Series 7 and $50 off a pair of Beats Fit Pro with your purchase.

    T-Mobile is offering deals to both new and existing customers at the moment. If you’re already a T-Mobile customer, you can save up to $400 on the new iPhone SE when you trade in your old phone, as long as you have or switch to an eligible service plan.

    Spectrum is another carrier that has the 2022 iPhone SE available for purchase, though the deals are pretty slim. The only offer available is an extra $100 on top of the estimated value of your device with a qualifying trade-in and a new line of service.

    Metro has the best prepaid offer of any retailer or carrier out there at the moment. When you purchase an iPhone SE at full retail price and switch your existing number over to Metro’s $40-per-month unlimited data plan, you’ll get an instant $330 rebate. Meaning you’re getting the iPhone SE for a single $100 purchase, rather than discounted via monthly credits. Those who don’t have a number to switch over can still save $100 with the activation of a new line on a qualifying Metro plan. If you’re looking to purchase your phone outright, this is the best offer you’ll find, though you’ll have to actually go to the store in person to claim it.

    Note: Because Metro is owned by T-Mobile, this offer is not available to those switching their number from an existing T-Mobile plan.

    Buy your new iPhone SE at Visible, port in your number and receive $150 back as a gift card to spend wherever Mastercard is accepted. The deal requires you to transfer your number within 30 days and after completing three full months of service payments you’ll receive a code to claim your virtual gift card. You can also snag a pair of AirPods Pro 2 with your purchase.


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  • Sony Announces Additional PlayStation VR 2 Launch Titles

    Sony Announces Additional PlayStation VR 2 Launch Titles

    An additional 13 games will work with Sony’s PlayStation VR 2 between its February launch and the end March, Sony said Thursday. Some of the titles included in the announcement are Rez Infinite and Tetris Effect: Connected.

    The additional 13 titles brings the total number of games available at or around the launch to 37. Many of the games are ports from other consoles, including the first PlayStation VR, like Resident Evil Village and Pavlov VR.

    A free PS VR2 update for Gran Turismo 7 is also expected to be available on launch day. People who previously bought Gran Turismo 7 will also be able to upgrade their game for free to make it PS VR 2 compatible.

    So far, here are the titles that will be available on the PS VR 2 by the end of March.

    • After the Fall
    • Altair Breaker
    • Before Your Eyes
    • Cities VR
    • Cosmonious High
    • Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition
    • The Dark Pictures: Switchback
    • Demeo
    • Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate
    • Fantavision 202X
    • Gran Turismo 7
    • Horizon Call of the Mountain
    • Job Simulator
    • Jurassic World Aftermath
    • Kayak VR: Mirage
    • Kizuna AI – Touch the Beat!
    • The Last Clockwinder
    • The Light Brigade
    • Moss 1 & 2 Remaster
    • NFL Pro Era
    • No Man’s Sky
    • Pavlov VR
    • Pistol Whip
    • Puzzling Places
    • Resident Evil Village
    • Rez Infinite
    • Song in the Smoke
    • Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge
    • Synth Riders
    • The Tale of Onogoro
    • Tentacular
    • Tetris Effect: Connected
    • Thumper
    • The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners: Ch. 2: Retribution
    • Vacation Simulator
    • What the Bat?
    • Zenith: The Last City

    The PS VR 2 is expected to launch on Feb. 22 for $550, which is $50 more than the price of a PlayStation 5.

    For more information on the PS VR 2, check out everything we know about the upcoming device.

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  • Google Maps Lets You Blur Your Home. Here’s Why You Should

    Google Maps Lets You Blur Your Home. Here’s Why You Should

    If you’ve ever used the Street View feature in Google Maps, you know that you can enter pretty much any address and check out a recent image of that location, whether it’s a business, government building or residence. It’s useful for knowing what building or landmark to look for when you arrive, but Street View also makes it easier for stalkers or criminals to plan their way inside your home.

    CNET Tech Tips logoCNET Tech Tips logo

    Street View gives anyone a free ticket to examine your home over the internet — maybe they want to look for any cameras or even find a side window to pry open. And sure, anyone can walk or drive by your home and do this in person, but Google Maps makes this process much simpler. Anyone with a phone or computer can do it.

    Fortunately, there is an easy way to blur your home on Google Maps and help prevent others from seeing too many details of where you live. Here’s how to do it.

    For more, here are seven essential Google Maps tips for the holidays and how Google Maps can help you figure out dinner.

    How to blur your home on Google Maps

    You’ll need to do this on your computer, as the blurring feature isn’t available in the Google Maps application on iOS or Android, and while it is accessible through the web browser on your mobile device, it’s rather difficult to use, so use a trusted web browser on your Mac or PC instead.

    At maps.google.com, enter your home address in the search bar at the top-right, hit return, then click the photo of your home that appears.

    Address in Google MapsAddress in Google Maps

    Click on the photo of your home, right above your address, on the top-left part of the page.

    Screenshot by Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    Next, you’ll see the Street View of your location. Click Report a Problem at the bottom-right. The text is super tiny, but it’s there.

    Street View of a location in Google MapsStreet View of a location in Google Maps

    This is the Street View of your location.

    Screenshot by Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    Now, it’s up to you to choose what you want Google to blur. Using your mouse, adjust the view of the image so that your home and anything else you want to blur is all contained within the red and black box. Use your cursor to move around and the plus and minus buttons to zoom in and out, respectively.

    Blur options for Google MapsBlur options for Google Maps

    If you want to blur more than what’s in the black/red box, use the + button to zoom in.

    Screenshot by Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    Once you’re finished adjusting the image, choose what you’re requesting to blur underneath:

    • A face
    • Your home
    • Your car/license plate
    • A different object

    You’ll be asked to give a bit more detail as to what exactly you want blurred, in case the image is busy with several cars, people and other objects.

    Also, be completely sure that what you select is exactly what you want blurred. Google mentions that once you blur something on Street View, it’s blurred permanently.

    Finally, enter your email (this is required), verify the captcha (if needed) and click Submit.

    Submit option for blurring in Google MapsSubmit option for blurring in Google Maps

    You’re required to provide additional information about what you want to blur, so be thorough.

    Screenshot by Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    You should then receive an email from Google that says it’ll review your report and get back to you once the request is either denied or approved. You may receive more emails from Google asking for more information regarding your request. Google doesn’t offer any information on how long your request will take to process, so just keep an eye out for any further emails.

    For more, here’s how Google Maps can help you avoid crowded public transit.