Calling all adventure junkies! If you’re always on the go and you want to share your adventures with everyone, what better way than a GoPro action camera? These sturdy and reliable cameras have taken the world by storm since they first arrived on the market in the early 2000s and they’re still making splashes in the media world.
Each version of the GoPro has built upon the features of its predecessor. Right now you can get the latest model — the GoPro Hero11 Black — with a huge chunk off its retail price at Woot, where it’s discounted by $100. Right alongside it is the GoPro Hero10 Black for $350, also $100 off its list price. These deals last until Jan. 31, or until supplies last, so it’s best to get one quickly if you want in on the savings.
Both cameras are great investments, so let’s look closer at what each will offer you. The Hero10 Black boasts a 23-megapixel camera and 5.3K video resolution at 60fps whereas the Hero11 Black has a 24.7-megapixel camera with 5.3K video. The latest model also has new image sensors that will deliver crisper stills and videos.
The Hero10 Black has Hypersmooth 4.0 stabilization which performs well in low light. The Hero11 Black upgraded this feature to the Hypersmooth 5.0 which improves stabilization with Horizon Lock. Whichever GoPro deal you choose, you won’t be disappointed with these buys.
Get the best price with CNET Shopping.
Love shopping online but don’t have time to compare prices or search for promo codes? Our CNET Shopping extension does that for you, so you always get the best price.
Apple has released the iOS 16.3 beta 2 to public beta testers, bringing new features like help finding parking via Apple Maps. The first iOS 16.3 beta appeared shortly after the release of iOS 16.2 and brought a few new features to testers’ iPhones as well.
As always, we recommend downloading a beta only on something other than your primary device. Since these are beta versions of iOS 16.3, the features might be buggy and your device’s battery life may be shortened, so it’s best to keep betas on a secondary device.
If you’re a public beta tester, here’s what’s new in the iOS 16.3 beta software. Note that the beta is still ongoing, so these likely won’t be the only new features to land on your iPhone when iOS 16.3 is released. There’s no word on the public release for iOS 16.3 just yet.
Apple Maps helps you find nearby parking options
Book parking before you leave your home so you aren’t driving around looking for a spot.
Screenshot by Zach McAuliffe/CNET
If you use Apple Maps to get directions to a location, you can now find nearby parking within Maps. When looking up a place to go, you can tap More (…) and tap Parking. This opens SpotHero, an online service that helps you find, book and pay for a parking spot at a nearby garage or parking lot. You can also reserve a spot through SpotHero. This feature is available only in select cities, though.
New ways to use Emergency SOS via satellite
Emergency SOS via satellite was introduced at Apple’s 2022 event in September. The new beta software brings new ways to use the service on your iPhone.
In iOS 16.3 beta 2, the Call with Hold option has been replaced with Call with Hold and Release. If you enable Call with Hold and Release, you can hold the side button and a volume button to initiate a countdown and an alarm. After the countdown, you release the buttons and your iPhone will call emergency services on its own. Before with Call with Hold, pressing the side button and a volume button would first bring up the Emergency SOS call slider. If you continued to hold the buttons, a countdown started and an alarm would go off. After the countdown ended, your phone would make an emergency call.
There’s also an option to Call Quietly in Emergency SOS. By enabling this option, when you try to make an emergency SOS call, your phone won’t start flashing or making an alarm sound.
Security keys come to Apple ID
With the beta software, users will be able to use third-party security keys instead of two-factor authentication for their Apple ID.
Security keys are a lot like keys to your home. You still use passwords, but this extra layer of security can help protect you against phishing scams and hackers.
“Hardware security keys are very, very secure,” Diya Jolly, chief product officer of authentication service company Okta, told CNET’s Stephen Shankland.
Security keys add more protection to your device.
Screenshot by Zach McAuliffe/CNET
Apple’s security keys feature only works with FIDO Alliance-certified security keys.
New HomePod Handoff prompts
Beta testers who have an Apple HomePod will be shown new messages when trying to use Handoff to transfer music, podcasts or phone calls over to the speaker. The messages further explain how Handoff works with your HomePod.
One message instructs you to bring your iPhone closer to the HomePod to view controls or to transfer your audio over to the HomePod. Another message says you can bring your iPhone closer to your HomePod again later to view those same controls or to transfer music.
Those are the major new features beta testers will see in the iOS 16.3 beta. That doesn’t mean these are the only features coming to the next iOS update. Apple will likely add more features before the release of iOS 16.3.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ quest to return to the Super Bowl begins on Sunday when they host the rival Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals enter the postseason as the AFC’s third seed, while the banged-up Ravens arrive as No. 6. Kickoff on Sunday is at 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT) on NBC and Peacock.
Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
Dylan Buell/Getty Images
How to watch Ravens vs. Bengals without cable
If you don’t have a cable or satellite TV subscription, you can watch the Ravens-Bengals game on NBC with a live TV service, or on NBC’s Peacock streaming service. The good news for football fans is that NBC 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 NBC in your area.
If you live in an area with good reception, you can watch the broadcast on NBC for free on over-the-air broadcast channels just by attaching an affordable (under $30) indoor antenna to nearly any TV.
Peacock offers three tiers: a limited free plan and two Premium plans. The ad-supported Premium plan costs $5 a month, and the ad-free Premium plan costs $10 a month. You need one of the Premium plans to watch the NBC broadcasts of NFL playoff games, which includes Chargers-Jaguars on Saturday night and Ravens-Bengals on Sunday night. Read our Peacock review.
Hulu with Live TV costs $70 a month and includes NBC. Click the “View channels in your area” link on its welcome page to see which local channels are offered in your ZIP code.
DirecTV Stream’s basic, $70-a-month Entertainment package includes NBC. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels are available where you live.
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.
The Giants and Vikings played a thriller in Minnesota in Week 16, which Minnesota won 27-24. On Sunday the two teams will meet again at US Bank Stadium with the stakes raised even higher, as the Vikings host the Giants in an NFC Wild Card showdown at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT) on Fox.
Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings will host the New York Giants on Sunday.
David Berding/Getty Images
How to watch Giants vs. Vikings without cable
If you don’t have a cable or satellite TV subscription, you can watch the Giants-Vikings 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.
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.
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.
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.
The models in Samsung’s latest Galaxy S22 lineup are some of the best phones you’ll find on the market right now, will all three models claiming a spot on our list of the best Android phones for 2023. They are the successors the the previous generation of Galaxy S21 phones, as well as the Note series, which has been discontinued in favor of the similar Galaxy S22 Ultra. With prices starting at $800, they certainly aren’t the most affordable phones out there, but thanks to the huge variety of deals from both carriers and retailers, you’ll have no trouble getting one of these sleek new Samsung phones in your hand for less.
The Galaxy S22, S22 Plus and S22 Ultra all feature several major camera improvements, including larger pixel sensors and Adaptive Pixel technology for improved nighttime photography and videos. There’s an improved portrait mode, as well as a new auto framing feature that can detect and track up to 10 people in order to capture everyone in a photo clearly.
Get your next phone for the best price.
Set price alerts on your favorite models with the CNET Shopping extension and get notified when prices drop.
However, it’s the Galaxy S22 Ultra that made the biggest splash. Samsung’s top-of-the-line phone introduces the S Pen to the S series for the first time, paying homage to the now-canceled Note.
Richard Peterson/CNET
The S22 Ultra also features significant camera upgrades, including Samsung’s largest pixel sensor ever, as well a number of raw photo tools for more comprehensive editing, and an advanced Super Clear Glass lens for smoother and crisper nighttime videos without flares.
We’ll take a closer look at all the details for each of the three flagship Galaxy S22 models and show you the best Galaxy S22 deals across the internet and in stores.
What colors does the Galaxy S22 come in?
Both the Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus are available in phantom black, phantom white, green and pink gold. The Galaxy S22 Ultra has a slightly different lineup: phantom black, phantom white, green and burgundy.
How much does the Galaxy S22 cost?
The three models of the Galaxy S22 are available in various storage configurations. US pricing for each model starts at:
Samsung Galaxy S22: $800
Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus: $1,000
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: $1,200
Both the Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus are available in 128GB and 256GB storage options with 8GB of RAM, while the Galaxy S22 Ultra will also add in options for 512GB and 1TB with up to 12GB of RAM.
Be sure to check out all the Galaxy S22 deals below.
Best Galaxy S22 deals
You might have missed the preorder offers, but most carriers and retailers are offering some stellar deals on these Galaxy S phones, especially if you’ve got an older device you’re looking to trade in. We’ve rounded up the best Galaxy S22 deals that you can shop for right now.
We will continue to update this page as new offers become available, so keep checking back if your carrier or preferred retailer is not listed below.
Samsung’s site is the obvious place to buy the newest Galaxy S22 phones, because it offers all the device configurations and has multiple payment options. Samsung offers carrier and unlocked models so you can choose between buying the phone outright, through carrier payments or financing it through Samsung, depending on your preference.
As of right now, Samsung is offering instant rebates of up to $150 on the S22 and S22 Plus, or up to $200 on the S22 Ultra. And you can save even more with a qualifying trade-in. Samsung’s site claims that you can earn up to $280 in trade-in credit, but the latest iPhones will net you as much as $845 off, and newer Samsung phones will net you as much as $335 off. You can trade-in phones and devices from other brands for a smaller discount as well.
All three models are currently available, though you’ll find select colors and configurations that are out of stock at the moment.
If you don’t want the headache of navigating carriers, plans and installment payments, you’ll want an unlocked phone that you can purchase outright. You can save up to $152 on the S22, $251 on the S22 Plus or $314 on the S22 Ultra. Just note that discounts jump around quite a bit between different colors and configurations.
This time around, AT&T is getting far more aggressive with its trade-in offers on the Galaxy S22 devices. The carrier is matching Verizon’s offer from last year and is accepting select phones in any condition as a trade-in. If you have an old phone worth at least $35, AT&T will give you up to $800 in enhanced trade-in credit, even if your trade-in is broken or doesn’t turn on.
With this promotion, you can get the base Galaxy S22 for free, get the S22 Plus for as little as $5.56 per month or the S22 Ultra for just over $11 per month. The credits take place over a 36-month period, and if you cancel service before the 36 months is over you’ll have to pay the remaining balance. You should also be aware that credits begin 90 days after purchase and require that you pay all taxes and associated fees on the retail price up front.
At the moment, AT&T is sold out of all configurations of the S22 Plus, as well as several S22 and S22 Ultra configurations. If you’ve got your eye on a specific model and color, we’d recommend trying to get your order in sooner rather than later.
If you’re a current Verizon subscriber or someone looking to make the switch to Verizon, there are some great discounts you can take advantage of. Those adding a new line can trade in their old device and get the base S22 for free, or save up to $1,000 on the S22 Plus and S22 Ultra. Those upgrading an existing line can get up to $800 off on all three models, which still nets you the base model S22 for free. And new customers switching a line over from another carrier will also get a $200 Verizon gift card.
You can even trade in broken or damaged phones, as long as the battery is intact, which is something that the carrier started doing last year. That means that you can get the S22 for free, and the S22 Ultra for less than $6 per month. The discount will be applied via monthly bill credits, so you can’t get this offer when you purchase the phone outright. It’s also worth noting that Verizon is now using 36-month terms instead of 24-month terms, so you’ll want to make sure that works for you before placing your order.
Verizon is offering some other bonuses as well, including a free Galaxy Watch 5 and $490 off a Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE. Just note that you’ll need a service plan for the new device as well. to get the deal.
Best Buy now offers support for Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile upgrades and new lines both in-store and online, which means you can take advantage of some of the great carrier offers available at the moment. If you’re looking to trade in a device, you can save up to $1,250 through Verizon, $1,000 through AT&T or $400 through T-Mobile with a new line of service as well. If you don’t have a device to trade in, all carriers are also offering a discount with a new line of service.
If you prefer an unlocked model, Best Buy is also offering $200 off the S22 Plus and Ultra, or $150 of the base model S22. The site claims you’ll have to choose same-day activation to get the discount (essentially defeating the point of an unlocked phone), but you can get the same price when you select activate later. Best Buy also has its own trade-in program where you can save even more.
T-Mobile usually goes all out for new phone releases with some pretty sweet deals for new customers and current ones alike. This time around, T-Mobile has two deals available: One for those with Magenta Max and one for those without.
Customers who are on the Magenta Max plan can save $800 on all three models, scoring you the standard S22 for free when adding a new line of service on your existing Magenta Max Plan. Those without a Magenta Max plan can still save up to $400 with a new line of service on another qualifying plan. And customers on any qualifying plan can save up to $400 when trading in an old device.
T-Mobile currently has all three models available, though colors and configurations are pretty limited.
Boost Mobile is offering new and existing customers an excellent deal on Galaxy S22 devices. For a limited time, the carrier is offering a nice discount that brings the base price of the 128GB Galaxy S22 down to only $350, $450 off the usual price. The S22 Plus and Ultra are discounted as well, but all configurations for those models are currently sold out. Since Boost Mobile is a prepaid carrier, you will need to buy the phone outright, but at this pricing it’s well worth it.
The Miami Dolphins held off the New York Jets and secured the seventh AFC playoff spot last week. Their prize? A trip up to chilly Buffalo to take on the second-seed Bills. The two AFC East rivals will meet up in Sunday’s first Wild Card game with kickoff set for 1 p.m. ET (10 p.m. PT) on CBS and Paramount Plus.
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
Billie Weiss/Getty Images
How to watch Dolphins vs. Bills without cable
If you don’t have a cable or satellite TV subscription, you can watch the Dolphins-Bills game on CBS with a live TV service or on CBS’ Paramount Plus streaming service. Unfortunately for football fans, not every service carries every local network, in particular CBS. Sling TV, for example, doesn’t offer the network at all, and you’ll want to double check each one using the links below to make sure it carries CBS in your area.
If you live in an area with good reception, you can watch the broadcast on CBS for free on over-the-air broadcast channels just by attaching an affordable (under $30) indoor antenna to nearly any TV.
Paramount Plus has two main options: Essential for $5 per month ($50 per year if paying annually) and Premium for $10 per month ($100 per year if paying annually). Both offer live NFL games, though the cheaper Essential option lacks live CBS feeds, ad-free content for on-demand streaming or the ability to download shows to watch offline later.
Since either option works for the NFL games, if all you want is football, the cheaper Essential option would be the way to go.
Hulu with Live TV costs $70 a month and includes CBS. Click the “View channels in your area” link on its welcome page to see which local channels are offered in your ZIP code.
DirecTV Stream’s basic, $70-a-month Entertainment package includes CBS. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels are available where you live.
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.
The Galaxy S22 may be the most advanced model in Samsung’s flagship lineup — with the S23 due soon — but that doesn’t mean you need to get rid of your Galaxy S21. In fact, now more than ever you’ll want to protect it was a good case. Because the Galaxy S21 comes in three sizes, you’ll need to make sure that you’re getting a case designed for your specific model. The S21 Ultra boasts a 6.8-inch screen and the heaviest build — cases with integrated kickstands are a good option for this big boy. The S21 Plus is slightly smaller at 6.7 inches, while the S21 is even smaller at 6.2 inches. But no matter what model you’ve got, we’ve rounded up all the best S21, S21 and S21 Ultra case options available.
Note that some of the recommendations for these Galaxy S21 series cases are based on my experience using nearly identical models with preceding Galaxy smartphones, as well as iPhones. Where multiple products are shown, the price listed is the starting price for the line. Make sure that you’re buying the case and tempered glass that matches the specific model of your S21 — Ultra, Plus or standard.
Leading case maker Speck brings a selection of protective case options to the Galaxy S21, including (from left to right in picture above) the Presidio Perfect-Clear, Presidio Perfect-Mist, Presidio Perfect-Clear Ombre, and Presidio2 Grip. They also have cases for the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, the Galaxy S20 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip models, the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy S7, S8, S9 and S10.
All the new models have very good drop protection (13 to 16 feet, depending on the model) as well as Speck’s Microban antimicrobial coating. The cases start around $40 in various color options, and can sometimes be found on sale for less.
If you’re looking for a cheap clear case for your new Galaxy S21, Spigen’s Ultra Hybrid is a good value at around $12 to $15, depending on the version you get. I like the Ultra Hybrid S (on left in photo), which has an integrated kickstand.
No drop rating is listed for this Samsung phone case, but it feels like Spigen’s transparent cases offer reasonable protection. If you want a tough case with decent protection, Spigen’s Tough Armor case (on right in photo) is an option for $18 to $19 and also has an integrated kickstand. Note that a lot of these cheaper clear cases have a habit of turning yellow and degrading over time, which makes them less translucent. But they’re cheap enough that you probably won’t mind shelling out for a replacement if and when that happens. This Samsung Galaxy S21 case is made of a TPU bumper and gives maximum protection with a precise cutout for the camera. The case material is polycarbonate and thermoplastic polyurethane.
Available in brown or black, Samsung’s leather case offers a hardened protective layer around the cameras while delivering a nice leather feel the rest of the way around. Leather doesn’t affect wireless charging or anything, so you can pop this on your phone and have it feel great without sacrificing anything. The soft leather case doesn’t add bulk to the phone and has good shock absorption.
Samsung’s Clear Standing Cover isn’t anything fancy but it’s a protective clear case that has an integrated kickstand. You can prop your phone up horizontally or vertically using the kickstand, which seems sturdy (it’s larger than Spigen’s integrated kickstand). I regularly use this case.
I’ve become a recent fan of Clckr’s cases, which feature a built-in stand and grip strap that folds out and clicks into place on the back of your phone. Clckr sells just the stand-strap accessory to stick on the back of your phone or on a case, but the case with the integrated stand accessory is better. The selection for the S21 is currently pretty limited (there’s only a clear version S21 and S21 Plus, not the S21 Ultra), but perhaps the options will expand over time.
The cases aren’t rugged but they’re protective enough, with raised edges to protect the screen. The ones I’ve used with other phones have held up well over time.
With the stand clicked in place, you can use your device hands-free in either portrait or landscape mode. Note that you can wirelessly charge your phone with this case on, though you have to be more careful about placing it in the right spot on a wireless charging pad for it to work. The new models have antimicrobial protection.
The company’s super protective Defender series case is available for all the Galaxy S21 models, but most people want something less bulky. I like the Symmetry series cases — they’re slim with beveled edges, making them a good mix of sleek and protective. That said, I’ve come to like the more protective Commuter Series better, thanks to the grips it has on the back and sides, as well as having raised edges on the front that should help protect your screen. The raised bezel acts as a screen protector to keep your screen scratch-free and the camera module gets the same treatment.
Sometimes you need more than an average case, and while there are plenty which claim “ruggedness” there are only a few willing to back that claim up. ArmadilloTek’s Vanguard series is MIL STD 810G rated, which means it can survive drops of up to 20 foot thanks to its multilayer design and gives great camera lens protection. Even with those layers in between the phone and the charger, one of which includes a pull-out stand, this case still supports wireless charging.
British case-maker Gear4, now owned by Zagg, makes cases that are right there with OtterBox and Speck. They’re all lined with the company’s D3O shock-absorbing material and feature beveled edges to protect your phone. Shown here from left to right are the Havana (10-foot drop protection), Denali (16-foot drop protection), Crystal Palace (13-foot drop protection) and Copenhagen (13-foot drop protection). All use some recycled plastic in their construction, but the Copenhagen, made out of 52% plant-based material, is the most eco-friendly.
Prices range from $30 to $50 for the top-end Denali, which is the Gear4 case I probably like best.
Particularly with the two larger models of the Galaxy S21, I find that having an integrated kickstand is a nice feature and the ESR kickstand case is about as affordable as you get at around $15, the same price as Spigen’s Neo Hybrid S.
Cyrill is a sub-brand of Spigen and like Spigen, its cases generally sell for less than $20. Cyrill doesn’t have quite the same selection for the Galaxy S21 as it does for the iPhone 12, but it has some protective clear cases with floral designs (pictured on right), as well as the Brick Matte Finish Bumper case, which has a soft-to-the-touch finish (pictured on left). It has a raised frame on the back that provides some extra protection for the camera lenses. The corners of the case have a raised lip as well.
Some people like to have full-screen protection, so they go with a folio case that covers the screen. The Strada Via is a new folio case from Otterbox that has a soft-to-the-touch finish and stays closed thanks to a set of magnets. It’s also got a slot for storing a credit card or two. The only thing I didn’t like about it is that it doesn’t convert into a kickstand for video viewing.
For the Galaxy S21, UK-based Mous makes its Clarity Lite clear case with anti-yellowing tech as well as its Limitless 3.0 case, which comes in a few different eye-catching styles (Aramid Fiber is shown on left). They’re all lined with the AiroShock material that the company says delivers excellent protection in a slim design. They do seem durable and all include a lifetime warranty.
Mous’ Limitless 3.0 cases are compatible with the company’s Limitless 3.0 accessories. That includes a wallet that magnetically adheres to the back of the phone case and a few mounts, one of which is an air-vent mount for your car.
It’s also worth noting that the Limitless 3.0 cases are the only ones I’ve seen that have a SIM-card storage slot on the inside of the smartphone case for international travelers in the habit of SIM-swapping.
Lifeproof’s Wake case is made out of recycled ocean plastic. It’s attractively designed but I wouldn’t call it super tough — it isn’t enclosed at the bottom and has 6-foot drop protection. (Note that some cases on this list have higher drop-protection ratings.)
This story is part of 12 Days of Tips, helping you make the most of your tech, home and health during the holiday season.
If you’re one of the 56% of Americans affected by inflation, then you may be looking to minimize costs in the new year. One way to go about it is to take a look at your streaming services. Once you add up the cost of your streaming subscriptions, you may realize you’re spending $500 per year or more. But there’s a way to curb this expense.
Here’s the scenario: You’re subscribed to multiple streaming services, you watch one or two of them until your favorite series ends its seasonal run, then look for the next thing. But is it worth keeping all those accounts active if you’re not watching anything on them? I don’t think so.
Want to improve your cybersecurity?
We’ll teach you why protecting your identity and data is important. Plus, get recommendations for VPNs, Password Managers and Antivirus Software.
Take a look at this money-saving strategy to help you tame your streaming costs.
Dumping cable for good and switching to streaming is a crafty money move for cord-cutters. Because you’re able to sign up for monthly plans, it’s easy to jump into a streaming service and jump out when prices increase or content dries up. But according to Deloitte’s 2022 Media Trends report, the main reasons people cancel their streaming subscriptions are because of costs and lack of fresh content. Media companies call this behavior “churn.” We’re calling this the rotation method, and you should try it.
The incentive? You save your coins and avoid content droughts. Let’s say a popular title like The Last of Us or Willow is set to premiere on a service. Find the total episode count and wait until they’re all available at once on a platform. You cancel HBO Max, Disney Plus or other service and then, once all the episodes are available, resubscribe to catch up. Alternatively, you can start streaming a show midseason to cut costs. My monthly guide on which streaming services to cancel can help you keep up.
The downside? You won’t have immediate access to every show you want to watch and will have to wait until the full season airs. And since many streaming services release new episodes weekly, you might not be caught up at the same time as your friends. If you’re someone who prefers to watch episodes immediately when they drop, you may decide it’s worth it to have multiple subscriptions at a time. If you have patience, however, you can save some money.
The strategy can also work if you have a live TV streaming service to watch a particular sport or major event like the Super Bowl. Once the season wraps, cancel the service or move to a cheaper platform with fewer channels, like Sling TV.
Need help figuring out the best way to rotate? Follow the tips below to learn how to churn streaming platforms until your wallet feels content.
Why pay for three months of HBO Max to watch The Last of Us when you can watch all nine episodes in March for the price of one month?
Liane Hentscher/HBO
Tip No. 1: Cancel your subscription before getting charged
Set calendar reminders for your billing cycle and upcoming TV show or movie release dates. Give yourself enough warning to begin or end a subscription. Apps such as JustWatch, V Time and Hobi help you track when and where TV shows and movies appear on a streaming service. And JustWatch recently added a tracker specifically for sports. If you have a smart home device from Google or Amazon, you can set reminders for specific dates and allow a voice assistant like Alexa to notify you of an upcoming bill or streaming release date.
Look for discounts on streaming services. For example, Starz is now $3 per month for three months, a drop from its regular $9-a-month rate. You can also take advantage of the Disney Bundle, which provides access to Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus in a single package for a reduced price. And eligible Hulu subscribers can add on Disney Plus for $2. Lastly, be sure to check with your mobile carrier to see which ones offer free streaming subscriptions.
Tip No. 3: Pick one or two default streaming services
Subscribe to one or two must-have services for the year, and select only one or two more options to fit your monthly budget. Rotate the bonus service(s) according to what you want to watch, ensuring you don’t miss your favorite shows while sticking to your monthly spending cap.
Tip No. 4: Use monthly billing only
Avoid annual subscriptions and pay attention to your auto-renewal payment dates. Your billing cycle can help determine when it’s the best time to quit a service, even if you’ve only signed up for a free trial. The only advantage to signing up for an annual plan is when the price is drastically cut down.
Tip No. 5: Don’t cancel your subscription, pause it
Hulu allows you to pause your subscription for up to 12 weeks, and Sling has a similar option with stipulations. Check with your streaming provider to see if you can take a temporary break without canceling.
Give it a shot, and if you don’t like it you can always resubscribe. For more excellent tips on streaming TV, check out this guide to Netflix’s hidden tricks and our tips on the best VPNs.
2023’s Best TV and Streaming Shows You Can’t Miss on Netflix, HBO, Disney Plus and More
The nice thing about being an Apple user is that there’s a whole ecosystem of accessories specifically designed for your devices. The drawback is that those accessories are often much more expensive than their Android counterparts, and Apple almost never offers any discounts directly. But right now, Woot is offering as much as 59% off Apple chargers and other accessories, so you’ve got a rare chance to snag some at a discount. These deals are available until Jan. 31, but there’s a chance they will sell out before then, so act fast if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.
It’s always a good idea to have some spare chargers around the house or in your bag, and this sale is a great chance to stock up for less. You can pick up a three-pack of USB-C to Lightning cables for just $25, which saves you $32 compared to the usual price. Or you can snag this bundle with a one meter USB-C to Lightning cable and a 20W power adapter for $30, $8 off the usual price. Or for serious charging power, you can pick up this 29W power adapter, which can be used for charging MacBooks, as well as iPhones and iPads. It’s on sale for $25, which saves you $24 compared to the usual price.
And there’s more than just charging gear on sale. This leather wallet with MagSafe comes in two different colors, can hold up to three credit cards at a time and snaps into place on the back of your iPhone (12 Series or newer). It’s $31 off, dropping the price down to $28. And if you’ve got some AirTags and want to make sure they’re not going to slip out of your bag or backpack, you can pick up this two-pack of durable AirTag loops for just $24, which is $34 off the usual price.
Shopping for a new phone case?
Compare pricing on your favorite cases with our CNET Shopping extension so you’re certain you’re getting the best deal.
Next month, AI will enter the courtroom, and the US legal system may never be the same.
An artificial intelligence chatbot, technology programmed to respond to questions and hold a conversation, is expected to advise two individuals fighting speeding tickets in courtrooms in undisclosed cities. The two will wear a wireless headphone, which will relay what the judge says to the chatbot being run by DoNotPay, a company that typically helps people fight traffic tickets through the mail. The headphone will then play the chatbot’s suggested responses to the judge’s questions, which the individuals can then choose to repeat in court.
It’s a stunt. But it also has the potential to change how people interact with the law, and to bring many more changes over time. DoNotPay CEO Josh Browder says expensive legal fees have historically kept people from hiring traditional lawyers to fight for them in traffic court, which typically involves fines that can reach into the hundreds of dollars.
So, his team wondered whether an AI chatbot, trained to understand and argue the law, could intervene.
“Most people can’t afford legal representation,” Browder said in an interview. Using the AI in a real court situation “will be a proof of concept for courts to allow technology in the courtroom.”
Regardless of whether Browder is successful — he says he will be — his company’s actions mark the first of what are likely to be many more efforts to bring AI further into our daily lives.
Modern life is already filled with the technology. Some people wake up to a song chosen by AI-powered alarms. Their news feed is often curated by a computer program, too, one that’s taught to pick items they’ll find most interesting or that they’ll be most likely to comment on and share via social media. AI chooses what photos to show us on our phones, it asks us if it should add a meeting to our calendars based on emails we receive, and it reminds us to text a birthday greeting to our loved ones.
But advocates say AI’s ability to sort information, spot patterns and quickly pull up data means that in a short time, it could become a “copilot” for our daily lives. Already, coders on Microsoft-owned GitHub are using AI to help them create apps and solve technical problems. Social media managers are relying on AI to help determine the best time to post a new item. Even we here at CNET are experimenting with whether AI can help write explainer-type stories about the ever-changing world of finance.
So, it can seem like only a matter of time before AI finds its way into research-heavy industries like the law as well. And considering that 80% of low-income Americans don’t have access to legal help, while 40% to 60% of the middle class still struggle to get such assistance, there’s clearly demand. AI could help meet that need, but lawyers shouldn’t feel like new technology is going to take business away from them, says Andrew Perlman, dean of the law school at Suffolk University. It’s simply a matter of scale.
“There is no way that the legal profession is going to be able to deliver all of the legal services that people need,” Perlman said.
How will AI make its way into the legal profession?
Hiroshi Watanabe/Getty Images
Turning to AI
DoNotPay began its latest AI experiment back in 2021 when businesses were given early access to GPT-3, the same AI tool used by the startup OpenAI to create ChatGPT, which went viral for its ability to answer questions, write essays and even create new computer programs. In December, Browder pitched his idea via a tweet: have someone wear an Apple AirPod into traffic court so that the AI could hear what’s happening through the microphone and feed responses through the earbud.
Aside from people jeering him for the stunt, Browder knew he’d have other challenges. Many states and districts limit legal advisors to those who are licensed to practice law, a clear hurdle that UC Irvine School of Law professor Emily Taylor Poppe said may cause trouble for DoNotPay’s AI.
“Because the AI would be providing information in real time, and because it would involve applying relevant law to specific facts, it is hard to see how it could avoid being seen as the provision of legal advice,” Poppe said. Essentially, the AI would be legally considered a lawyer acting without a law license.
AI tools raise privacy concerns too. The computer program technically needs to record audio to interpret what it hears, a move that’s not allowed in many courts. Lawyers are also expected to follow ethics rules that forbid them from sharing confidential information about clients. Can a chatbot, designed to share information, follow the same protocols?
Perlman says many of these concerns can be answered if these tools are created with care. If successful, he argues, these technologies could also help with the mountains of paperwork lawyers encounter on a daily basis.
Ultimately, he argues, chatbots may turn out to be as helpful as Google and other research tools are today, saving lawyers from having to physically wade through law libraries to find information stored on bookshelves.
“Lawyers trying to deliver legal services without technology are going to be inadequate and insufficient to meeting the public’s legalities,” Perlman said. Ultimately, he believes, AI can do more good than harm.
The two cases DoNotPay participates in will likely impact much of that conversation. Browder declined to say where the proceedings will take place, citing safety concerns.
Neither DoNotPay nor the defendants plan to inform the judges or anyone in court that an AI is being used or that audio is being recorded, a fact that raises ethics concerns. This in itself resulted in pushback on Twitter when Browder asked for traffic ticket volunteers in December. But Browder says the courts that DoNotPay chose are likely to be more lenient if they find out.
AI has a lot of potential to democratize legal assistance, advocates say.
Getty Images
The future of law
After these traffic ticket fights, DoNotPay plans to create a video presentation designed to advocate in favor of the technology, ultimately with the goal of changing law and policy to allow AI in courtrooms.
States and legal organizations, meanwhile, are already debating these questions. In 2020, a California task force dedicated to exploring ways to expand access to legal services recommended allowing select unlicensed practitioners to represent clients, among other reforms. The American Bar Association told judges using AI tools to be mindful of biases instilled in the tools themselves. UNESCO, the international organization dedicated to preserving culture, has a free online course covering the basics of what AI can offer legal systems.
For his part, Browder says AI chatbots will become so popular in the next couple of years that the courts will have no choice but to allow them anyway. Perhaps AI tools will have a seat at the table, rather than having to whisper in our ears.
“Six months ago, you couldn’t even imagine that an AI could respond in these detailed ways,” Browder said. “No one has imagined, in any law, what this could be like in real life.”
