Amazon agreed to settle two European Union antitrust cases that alleged mistreatment of its third-party retailers, the European Commission said Tuesday. However, the e-commerce giant won’t pay a fine. Instead, for the next seven yearsit’ll follow EU antitrust rules by changing business practices that regulators say disproportionately harm third-party sellers on the platform.
“Today’s decision sets new rules for how Amazon operates its business in Europe. Amazon can no longer abuse its dual role and will have to change several business practices,” Margrethe Vestager, executive vice president in charge of competition policy, said in a statement.
The Commission, which is the EU’s executive branch, found in 2020 that Amazon “distorted fair competition” on its platform by using third-party sellers’ nonpublic data to compete against them, the statement said. The e-commerce platform’s criteria for its buy box and Prime program also “unduly favors” its own retailers or retailers that utilize its logistics and delivery services, the Commission found.
Amazon agreed to provide third-party retailers with an equal opportunity for being selected as a default option for the platform’s buy box. It will also stop using nonpublic data from the independent sellers on its marketplace and set nondiscriminatory practices for retailers’ products to qualify for Amazon Prime.
Amazon is required to follow the Commission’s final guidance for seven years.
“We are pleased that we have addressed the European Commission’s concerns and resolved these matters,” a company spokesperson told CNET via email. “While we continue to disagree with several of the preliminary conclusions the European Commission made, we have engaged constructively to ensure that we can continue to serve customers across Europe and support the 225,000 European small and medium sized businesses selling through our stores.”
Gone are the days when you had to tether your phone to an outlet to charge. Thanks to wireless charging technology, the best phones around can stay juiced up over those long car rides. No matter if you’re using the latest iPhone 14 or the Samsung Galaxy S22, you’ll want to use one of the best wireless car chargers out there during your next road trip. Don’t be misled, though.
Wireless charging doesn’t mean there aren’t any wires involved — you’ll still need to connect the charger to your vehicle. But once it’s set up, all you need to do is pop your phone in and out when you want to juice up. If you’re looking to add one of these handy charging phone mounts to your car, check out our roundup below for some of the best options on the market right now.
Note that each wireless charger in this buyer’s guide is compatible with any wireless charging-enabled mobile phone, whether it’s an iPhone, a Samsung Galaxy, a Google Pixel or any other Qi-enabled phone. And if you’re attached to your phone case — so long as it isn’t super thick — you can leave it on and still charge your phone. Most of these chargers even double as a phone holder with an adjustable arm.
We update this list periodically when new wireless charging technology comes to market.
iOttie’s “autosense” automatic clamping wireless car charger with a phone mount is one of the best out there. While it’s fairly pricey, we’ve seen some nice discounts on it recently. The Auto Sense Automatic Clamping Qi Charging Car Phone Mount is available in a dashboard mount version or a CD and vent clip version (I tried the dashboard wireless charging mount). This wireless car charger mount has a nicely designed telescoping arm, a strong suction cup, and the wireless charging mount feature is compatible with most phone cases. You get 7.5-watt charging for an iPhone and 10-watt for Android phones, which is considered fast wireless charging.
This Qi wireless charger comes with a dual charging USB cigarette lighter adapter. My only gripe — and it’s a small one — is that the included cable is Micro-USB and not USB Type-C. Once this Qi charger is plugged into the wireless car charging mount you can basically forget about it, but if the cable accidentally becomes unplugged (which does happen), it’s easier to plug in a USB-C cable for phone charging, especially when you’re driving.
If you don’t mind going with a no-name brand like ZeeHoo, its wireless car charger has most of the features you want for phone charging, including autoclamping, a secure suction cup that can be installed on your car’s air vent, windshield or dashboard. It has USB-C and up to 15-watt fast charging for Android phones that support it (iPhones are capped at 7.5-watt charging). This upgraded version has a sleeker design than the original (see below) and it costs about $20 less than the iOttie above. However, this wireless charger doesn’t come with a cigarette lighter adapter — only a USB-C cable.
This wireless car mount charger is one of the more popular generic wireless car chargers with an autosensing telescopic arm, and the original version I tried worked well overall, attaching securely to my car vent mount and giving my smartphone or QI enabled device a quick charge. I liked that the wireless car charger came with both a phone mount for my car’s air-vent mount (if you want just the air-vent mount, there is an air-vent only version that costs $30).
Note that to get fast charging, you will need a power adapter that supports it (not included).
ZeeHoo’s original wireless car charger with autoclamping remains a good value at around $30. Aside from some cosmetic improvements on the upgraded version, the biggest difference is that this one has up to 10-watt fast charging for Android phones instead of 15-watt fast charging (iPhones are capped at 7.5-watt charging for both chargers). Like the upgraded version, this wireless charger doesn’t come with a cigarette lighter adapter — only a USB-C cable — and to get fast charging, you will need a power adapter that supports it (not included).
If you want to go with a little more discreet-looking wireless charger, a magnetic mount phone charger is a good choice. The iOttie iTap 2 Wireless is available in versions with air-vent, CD slot and dashboard car suction mount. I tried the air-vent version, which has a locking mechanism on the air-vent clip that keeps the charger suction mount securely attached to the vent. Note that this mount isn’t MagSafe compatible.
For your wireless phone charger to work with a magnetic car suction mount, you either need a case with some metal built into it (which I have) or you can attach one of the included slim stick-on metal plates to the back of your phone (stick it toward the bottom so it doesn’t interfere with the wireless charge circuitry in the middle of it). You can even cover the plate with your phone case, but make sure the case isn’t too thick or your phone won’t stick to the charger mount.
The iOttie iTap 2 magnetic wireless car charger mount includes a dual USB car charger that has an extra USB port for charging a second device. The included cable is a Micro-USB cable, not USB-C, which doesn’t have accelerated charging capabilities. I tested it using an iPhone 11 Pro, which stayed on the charger securely, but for larger phones, it would probably be better to go with one of the wireless charger options above.
Mophie’s Snap Plus 15W Wireless Charging Vent Mount is a magnetic mount that comes with an integrated USB-C cable (the charging puck is removable from the mount but the cable is integrated into the puck). It also comes with a cigarette lighter adapter and a magnetic ring you can stick onto the back of phones that aren’t MagSafe-enabled, including Android models. I tried it with a MagSafe charger case on my iPhone 12 Pro and the phone stuck well to the mount. That said, the magnet isn’t super-strong and I wouldn’t recommend this for heavier phones like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. But overall it’s an attractively designed accessory.
It can wirelessly charge Android models at up to 15-watt speeds, but with iPhones wireless charging tops out at 7.5 watts.
ZealSound’s Qi-Certified Car Charge Slim Pad Station Dock may not be the most elegant wireless charging solution, but this wireless charging pad can be placed anywhere you want and has a grippy bottom and guard rails to keep your phone from flying off the pad when you brake or accelerate suddenly or make a sharp turn. It offers up to 10-watt charging for compatible Android phones. For iPhones it charges at 7.5 watts. A cigarette-lighter power adapter is included.
If you’ve already got Apple’s MagSafe wireless charging puck, this Spigen mounting accessory is a good option for bringing it into your car. As I said, the MagSafe wireless charger isn’t included. Nor is a USB-C cigarette lighter adapter. But at less than $20, this is a fairly affordable magnetic mounting accessory.
Note: Just make sure to get the right cigarette lighter adapter with it to get the maximum 15-watt charging speeds. Also, since this relies on the magnets from the wireless charging puck for your phone to stick to it (MagSafe case required if you are using a case) this isn’t recommended for the larger iPhone 13 Max Pro as it’s more likely to slip off the mount — especially if you hit a bump — because of its weight.
OK, so this isn’t a wireless charger, but a lot of the wireless car chargers on this list don’t include a cigarette-lighter power adapter, so I thought I’d throw this on the list at the end. I originally had an Aukey power adapter on this list, but it’s out of stock and this low-profile Ainope mini fast USB Car Charger offers even faster charging (up 24 watts) and costs less. It has both a USB-C and USB-A port so you can charge two devices at the same time, but to get 15-watt wireless charging you’re going to be better off charging one device.
Note that to get the fastest wired charging for iPhones, you’ll need to use a USB-C to Lightning cable. That cable is not included.
With a wide variety of different keyboards on the market, it’s important to find a model and style that’s been designed to suit your needs. Gamers will want a mechanical keyboard that’s optimized for speed and responsiveness, while those who often work on the go will want a compact model that’s easy to throw in a backpack. But no matter what style of keyboard you’re looking for, it’s important to find one that fits your budget, too.
Whether you’re after a fully customizable mechanical keyboard with fun keycaps or something that can connect to a few devices and easily switch between them, we have you covered. We’ve scoured the internet to find all the best keyboard deals that are out there right now and broken them down into a few sections to make it easier to sort through so you can find the keyboard that suits your needs at the best price.
Bluetooth wireless keyboard deals
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If you’re in the market for something portable or just a basic keyboard, these deals are for you. From keyboards that connect to multiple devices at once to ultracompact and portable ones, there are Bluetooth keyboard deals here for everyone.
This is a multidevice Bluetooth keyboard, meaning that you can program it to easily connect to and switch between three different Bluetooth devices. With it, you can connect to your phone, tablet and PC if you want — switching between them is the work of a simple button press. It works with Mac, Windows, Chrome, Android, iPhone, Apple TV and more. It’s a small keyboard but offers up to two years of battery life before you need to swap them out.
If you want a keyboard with a great design and a bunch of nice features but is easy to move around, this Microsoft Designer Compact Keyboard may be the one for you. It has a low-profile design, an input key for easy access to symbols, emoji and more, as well as the ability to connect to three devices.
While it’s primarily designed to work with Windows (it comes with only a Windows key, there’s no Mac key option), you can connect it to Mac, Android and more with ease.
The first thing you’ll notice about this keyboard is the different layout. It’s a split ergonomic keyboard designed to position your wrists and forearms in a more natural position. The number pad is separate from the keyboard, which gives you some freedom as to where to place it in your workspace, since this layout takes up more space. While it’s an older keyboard, it’s still a great one to consider. Read our Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard review.
If you have a Mac, it doesn’t get much better than the Magic Keyboard. It was named one of our overall favorite keyboards for 2022, and is designed to pair and work seamlessly with iOS devices. It’s completely wireless, and our reviewer was impressed by its long-lasting battery. This deal is on the full-size model, with includes the numeric keypad.
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Mechanical keyboard deals
They click and clack, but mechanical keyboards are extremely popular among gamers and PC enthusiasts alike. They can be customized to no end, but you can get started with a great basic keyboard before diving into the world of creating your own, swapping switches and buying endless new keys.
The Alloy Elite 2 is one of our favorite gaming keyboards on the market in 2022. It’s a full-size wired keyboard that has a durable solid steel frame and a light bar with unique RGB effects. It’s equipped with HyperX pudding keycaps and red mechanical switches and has three onboard memory profiles so you can easily switch between game types.
This gaming keyboard features hybrid high-performance Mecha-Membrane switches that provide the tactile feedback of a mechanical key press on a comfortable, soft-cushioned membrane switch that is suitable for gaming. It supports up to 80 million clicks, and Razer Hypershift allows for all keys and keypress combinations to be remapped to execute complex commands. It also includes RGB lighting and a magnetic wrist rest to align perfectly and offer plush comfort during extended gaming sessions. There is even a digital volume wheel for easy adjustment of audio levels right from your keyboard.
This gaming keyboard has a simple, minimalist design that features seven media keys and a dedicated game mode key that will allow you to enable or disable certain keys while gaming. And you can customize it to your needs. It also features a detachable textured palm-rest, so you can use it as needed, as well as RGB lighting and keys with a 50-million-click lifecycle and 100% antighosting with 104-key rollover on USB.
The BlackWidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed is one of our favorite gaming keyboards on the market for 2022. It’s a 65% mechanical keyboard, and one of the few of its size that’s equipped with both Bluetooth and lag-free 2.4GHz wireless. It also boasts a battery life of up to 200 hours, and is equipped with ultra-smooth Razer yellow mechanical switches. This keyboard is a solid value even at full price, so it’s a bargain when you can find it on sale.
This mechanical keyboard has O-Ring sound dampeners and backlit keys with white LED lighting. It also features Razer Hypershift, which allows for all keys and keypress combinations to be remapped to execute complex commands. It supports up to 80 million clicks. Its tournament-ready tenkeyless design and detachable USB cable make for a portable keyboard for gamers on the go.
Logitech is well known for quality PC accessories and the company’s mechanical keyboards are no different. The G Pro mechanical keyboard features GX Blue Clicky Switches, RGB backlighting, USB passthrough, programmable macros and much more. It’s great for those looking to get into mechanical keyboards without spending too much and who want to take their gaming to the next level.
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Keyboard-mouse bundle deals
If you’re in need of a mouse and a keyboard, sometimes you can get the best deal by bundling the two into one purchase. This does limit the available models, but at these prices, odds are you won’t mind.
This highly rated pair of wired gaming accessories can help bring your skills to the next level without spending a ton. The keyboard has a gaming membrane inside and is spill-resistant just in case things get crazy and your drink goes toppling over. The wired mouse has an adjustable DPI up to 6,200 and offers seven programmable buttons, all of which are tested for up to 20 million clicks.
This is more than a keyboard and mouse bundle, but they’re both great options for gamers. The bundle comes with a mouse pad and gaming headset as well as the Apex 3 keyboard and Rival 3 wireless mouse. At this price, the kit is one you’ll want to check out.
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Choosing the best pair of wireless earbuds is not an easy task: There’s a lot to consider, like battery life, comfort and sound quality. Depending on your criteria, price tags can be all over the place. You can grab entry-level models for as low as $50, while some of the priciest models are in the $200 range and beyond.
These Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro buds from Anker are the best-sounding value pair on our current list of the best wireless earbuds. They’re a great intersection of quality and affordability, offering a sound that can compete with more expensive earbuds without breaking the bank.
Even at their usual $170, they’re a great value, but right now Best Buy is running a deal that drops the price to just $80, a discount of $90. This deal only lasts for the next few hours, so hurry and grab a pair while you can.
These true-wireless Anker earbuds are plenty impressive. Their most remarkable feature is the sound quality at this price. Using coaxial driver tech and Anker’s HearID tech, which maps your in-ear pressure for a custom-tailored sound profile, they deliver sound on par with earbuds that cost much more, according to CNET’s resident headphone expert David Carnoy.
They have six built-in microphones for precise, active noise cancellation. And when you account for the wireless charging case, they deliver up to 32 hours of total playtime. With Soundcore’s companion app, you can also customize the equalizer, touch controls and more.
Looking for other options? Be sure to check out all the best headphone deals available now.
Looking for a simple computer that’s designed for the basics? Chromebooks are a great, and affordable, option for those who want to create documents or presentations, stream shows or movies, share photos and browse the web. They’re also generally ultra-portable so you can do work from the office, home, a coffee shop or anywhere else. Right now, this 11.6-inch Lenovo Chromebook 3 is just $89 at Best Buy, down from its original price tag of $139, so you get to save $50. There’s no set expiration for this discount, but deals are coming and going pretty fast with Christmas just around the corner. We’d recommend ordering sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.
This Chromebook didn’t make our list of best Chromebooks for 2022, but it’s still packed with notable features. Equipped with 4GB of flash memory and a 64GB hard drive, this Lenovo Chromebook is both flexible and fast. It’s powered by an Intel Celeron processor and Google’s user-friendly Chrome operating system. It will last up to 10 hours on its battery, weighs less than three pounds and is less than an inch thick, making this laptop easy to carry with you anywhere.
It already comes with apps (you can also download thousands more), and it has built-in virus protection and cloud backup. Though it’s sacrificed a CD or DVD drive to remain light and thin, it has a microphone/headphone jack, HD webcam with a microphone and a built-in microSD card reader, which is an easy way to add some extra storage.
Gaming used to be a much more niche hobby, but with the advent of smartphones, almost everyone plays video games at some point or another. They can be a great way to spend time with the family or turn a party up to 11. And there are plenty of games where you don’t need to teach someone how to use a controller and all of its confusing buttons. In fact, there are some designed specifically with just your smartphone in mind.
There are a lot of online games to choose from — whether you’re a fan of old-school favorites, party games
, escape rooms or exciting board games, there’s likely a virtual option. Here are some of the best online games you can play with friends, no matter what type of experience you’re seeking. We’ll update this list regularly.
For us, Jackbox Games is the holy grail of casual online gaming: Its multiplayer party games are simple to learn but still very entertaining to play, and it’s also easy to stream or screen-share games from one device to a group for a virtual game night. Everyone plays through a web browser on their phones, so no apps or consoles are needed. You can even mirror your Android or iOS device to your TV.
Here’s how the Jackbox Party Pack works: One person has to purchase either one of seven Jackbox Party Packs, or one or more individual games, on Steam (for PC, Mac and Linux). The packs contain five games and usually cost $30 each, but sometimes you can find them on sale for less. The packs are also available on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and other devices.
After purchasing, you can hop on a video chat through a Zoom call, Skype, Google Hangouts or wherever you prefer for a video call, start the game on your laptop and use the screen-share option so that all the other players on the call can see the screen, too. As mentioned, everyone plays along on their mobile device by using a browser and going to Jackbox.tv, where you’ll be asked to enter a room code.
Other options include using Steam Remote Play Together, Discord screen sharing, sharing through your gaming console, or just setting up a webcam in front of your TV. Jackbox provides information on how to stream its games, too.
Each pack includes a variety of different games that might ask you to answer trivia questions, draw weird doodles or write the best joke. The games are light, humorous and include clear instructions, so they’re easy for the most novice players to pick up. But if you like a little more complexity, this year’s Jackbox Party Pack 8 features games that involve social deduction and hiding clues.
If you’re a fan of games like Mafia or Werewolf, you’ll love Among Us, an online multiplayer social deduction game from developer InnerSloth. Play as a crew member aboard a spaceship, sky headquarters or planet base, attempting to keep your ship together and return back to Earth with a group of four to 10 people (either those you know IRL or strangers online). But one crew member has been replaced by a parasitic shape-shifting alien who wants to eliminate the rest of the crew before the ship reaches home. Problem is the imposter looks just like everyone else and will sabotage the ship, sneak through vents, deceive fellow players and try to frame others, all in an attempt to remain undetected and kill off the rest of the crew.
Meanwhile, the nonalien crew members must perform tasks to fix up the ship and can’t talk unless a death is reported. Then, the surviving crew can openly debate via chat who they think the imposter is and make their best guess about who to vote off the ship. If the imposter is voted off, the crew wins. But if the group accidentally votes a crew member off, everyone goes back to maintaining the ship until another body is found, and they vote again.
Among Us is free to play on iOS and Android devices (you can download it on the App Store or Google Play Store). Or, it costs $5 to play on a PC (you can download it on Steam or itch.io). One major benefit is that you can play with people seamlessly across platforms.
Be warned: The free mobile version does have ads. Once you download and open the game on your device, you’ll see a pop-up detailing its use of AdMob and data collection. If you want to turn off ads and data collection, you can purchase the ad-free version of the app for $2 by tapping Remove Ads, and following the prompts to select your payment method.
Put your puzzle-solving skills to the test with a virtual escape room. Try to solve all of the puzzles and follow the clues to escape the computerized room before time is up, as you would when you play the real-world version.
One option for ages 12 and up is TEG Unlocked: The Heist from The Escape Game. In the two-part game for one to four players, you’ll work as a secret agent trying to thwart a suspected art thief. Each part costs $10, or you can buy all three games and get a 10% discount.
If you’re looking for a more kid-friendly choice, there’s a free Harry Potter-themed escape room created by Peters Township Public Library in McMurray, Pennsylvania, using Google Docs.
If you’re looking to play traditional tabletop board games online, check out Tabletopia, which calls itself an “online arena” for playing more than 900 board games the same way you would in real life. You can play on a desktop browser for Mac or Windows, or download the platform on Steam, the App Store or the Google Play Store.
You’ll find fun classics like chess and Texas Hold ‘Em, or more in-depth options like Scythe and Clans of Caledonia to play. Start your own game with friends, or join a game in progress with open seats. The virtual versions save you from shuffling and some rules interpretation, making it easier to jump into each game.
You can play some fun game options for free with the bronze package, or upgrade to the silver ($5 a month) or gold ($10 a month) package to access premium games.
Another similar option is Tabletop Simulator, which includes classic game options like chess, poker, dominoes, Mahjong and jigsaw puzzles. Create your own original games on the platform, as well as play ones that were created by others.
You’ll see some familiar titles in here, but note that most of those were created by other users, as opposed to actual game developers. You can buy Tabletop Simulator on Steam for Windows and Mac for $20 and then share your screen to play with friends.
Since Animal Crossing: New Horizons came out on Nintendo Switch in 2020, it has taken the video game world world by storm. While you can perform simple tasks like growing fruit, planting trees and designing rooms alone, you can also invite friends to visit your island and go fishing and exploring together. Some familiar characters from the Mario universe have even shown up.
Nintendo released the 2.0 update for New Horizons last November, adding new items and expansions to villager interactions and the game camera. Happy Home Paradise is also available as a paid DLC, allowing players to build vacation homes.
You may already be familiar with popular mobile games that you can play with friends anytime. Fortnite, Words with Friends 2, Scrabble GO, Uno & Friends and Draw Something are all great options for simple games that let you keep in touch and sneak in a turn when you have time throughout the day.
Pokemon Unite takes the classic Pokemon formula and remixes it as a multiplayer online battle arena, similar to Dota 2 and League of Legends. Players control Pokemon and are tasked with battling both wild and opponent-controlled Pokemon to earn experience and Unite points. Two lanes, at the top and bottom of the map, are punctuated with hoop-like goals for each team, where players can deposit their Unite points to score.
Unite is a great game to play with friends because it simplifies the traditional MOBA elements, making it easier for beginners to jump in. And for fans of Pokemon, Unite still keeps many of the familiar gameplay — leveling up, evolving, learning new moves and using items for a tactical advantage. The game has been downloaded 50 million timesas of last December.
The five-on-five battles in Unite rely on teamwork, so it’s the most fun when you have a friend or four to play alongside. Have a group of five? Team up as a full squad and coordinate your attacks. Got a pair of friends who want in? You can team as the original starters, Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise. Just one friend? Become the dominant duo in your lane by pairing offensive firepower with defensive toughness.
Every Pokemon has its own style, strengths and weaknesses, allowing players to find the character that best suits them. Create a well-rounded team to carve a path to victory, or have fun playing your favorites — the choice is up to you.
There’s always the option to go as old-school as possible in your virtual gaming: You can find free online versions of some classics like Battleship. You can also work on a crossword puzzle with friends through the Washington Post. Tabletop Simulator, mentioned above, also includes games like chess, poker, dominoes and jigsaw puzzles that you can play with friends if you both buy the platform.
Steam is one of my favorite gaming platforms — it’s easy to navigate and there are tons of sales. You can play games alone or with friends, and Steam is compatible with third-party controllers. If you know where to look, the service has a lot more to offer than a massive selection of games, bundle deals and ease of use.
Here’s a few tips and tricks every Steam user should know about to get the most out of the platform.
Share your library with friends
If you have a massive gaming library through Steam, it’s possible to share with friends and family. You can select up to five users who can access and use your library across 10 devices that you’ve authorized.
Open the Steam app and click Steam in the top left corner of the screen. Select Settings (Windows) or Preferences (Mac) and choose Family in the side menu. Click the box that says Authorize Library Sharing on this computer.
You can also revoke access by clicking your username in the upper right corner of the Steam app and choosing Account Details in the drop-down menu. From there, scroll down to Family Settings and click Manage Family Library Sharing. Under Sharing Status, click Revoke on any devices or accounts you no longer wish to have access.
Turn on Steam Guard and 2-factor authentication
Steam Guard can add an extra layer of security to your account.
Steam/ Screenshot by Shelby Brown/ CNET
Steam Guard can serve as a useful tool to provide an additional level of security against unauthorized access. To set it up on the desktop app or browser, click your username in the top right corner. Click Account Details in the drop-down menu and choose Manage Steam Guard under Account Security.
When Steam Guard is enabled, you can have codes sent to your phone or email, as well as deauthorize other computers or devices other than the one you’re currently using that might have saved your login information. Steam recommends sending Guard Codes to your phone to also serve as two-factor authentication.
Set up Family View
Family View can serve as a useful tool for adults who share an account with younger users. The feature lets families customize which parts of Steam are accessible to other users. To get started, log into the Steam account that your child will use, click the Steam menu in the top left corner and choose Settings (Preferences on Mac). Choose the Family tab and click Manage Family View.
Choose what the protected account can access in Family View like Only Games I Choose or All Games, as well as online content and social features. Once you’re satisfied with your choices, click Next.
If you selected Only Games I Choose, Steam will generate a list of all your games and you can individually click which games you want PIN-protected.
Click Next, verify your recovery email address and click Next again.
Create, enter and re-enter your PIN and click Next. Steam will send a verification code to your recovery email, enter that code when prompted and click Next to finalize the process.
To turn off Family View, return to Manage Family View and click Disable Family View.
How to use Remote Play Together
If you set up Remote Play Together, this is what it’ll look like.
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Steam’s Remote Play feature lets you play local multiplayer games with friends and family. One player owns and runs the game, according to Steam, and up to four players can join in. To find a list of compatible Remote Play games, open the Steam app, click Categories and choose Remote Play under Special Sections.
To start a session, launch your game, make sure your friends are logged in to Steam from their devices and open Steam Overlay in-game. Find your friends list and right-click the names of the people you want to play with, then click Remote Play Together. You can start playing after all your invitees have accepted.
How to make a Library Collection
Steam collections can help organize your library.
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Steam keeps your games in alphabetical order on the left-hand side of the screen, but if you’ve got a massive library or want even more organization, you can create a Collection. In the Steam app, click Library and choose Collections. Name your collection and choose Create Collection. From there, just drag and drop any games you want to include. The collection will save automatically. Those games will be organized under the name of your collection in the left-hand side menu instead of the larger alphabetical list.
You can also choose Dynamic Collection by following the same steps. Dynamic Collections use filters to create collections that continuously update as you add more games to our library.
Add and play non-Steam games
You can play games that aren’t native to Steam on the platform pretty easily. To add a non-Steam game to your library, open the Steam app and click Add Game in the lower left corner of the screen. From there, click Add a Non-Steam Game.
Since I added Myst as a non-Steam game, there’s no information on its main page.
Shelby Brown/CNET
Steam will open a window that lists all the games found on your device. Check the box next to the game you want to add and click Add Selected Programs. If you don’t see the game you want, click Browse and Steam will expand your search results. Find the program you want and click Open. Make sure the program or game is checked in the Add a Game window and click Add Selected Programs.
You should then be able to see the game or program you added in your alphabetical library list on the left side of the screen. When you click the game, the page will likely have little to no information since it’s not native to steam.
Customize bandwidth
You can adjust the bandwidth to make Steam work faster or slower.
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Because Steam uses the internet to download games, getting your gameplay going can take little to no time. But if your internet connection is slow, Steam downloading a game likely won’t leave any download speed for anything else. So, if you want to multitask during a download, you can limit Steam’s download speed.
Click Steam in the top left corner of the app and choose Settings (Preferences on Mac). Click Downloads and then check the box next to Limit Bandwidth To. From there, you can type in your preferred download speed and click OK. You can adjust or remove the limits at any time.
Xiaomi begun large-scale layoffs this week, with plans to reduce its workforce by up to 10 percent.
The Chinese company said it had “recently implemented routine personnel optimization and organizational streamlining, with affected parties totalling less than 10% of total workforce,” in an official statement on Tuesday.
Xiaomi’s total headcount stood at 35,314 workers as of September 30, according to its third-quarter financial results for this year, with a large majority of those workers (32,609) based in mainland China followed by India and Indonesia.
News of the layoffs was was first reported by the South China Morning Post, citing social media posts by affected workers as well as local Chinese media. The layoffs at Xiaomi come as mainland China grapples with the economic aftermath of years-long COVID-19 restrictions as well as slowing global smartphone demand. In November, Xiaomi reported a near 10% drop in third quarter revenue with smartphone sales falling 11% year-on-year. Revenue from smartphones make up approximately 60% of the company’s total sales.
Xiaomi is one of the world’s largest smartphone makers. The Beijing-based company is estimated to have shipped more than 190 million smartphone units in 2021, which represents an increase of 45 million units compared to the year before, according to Statista.
The layoffs at Xiaomi follow a spate of layoffs across a number of Big Tech firms, which saw companies including Meta, Twitter, and Amazon undergo large-scale layoffs.
Did you buy a MacBook that had keyboard issues? If so, you might be eligible for part of a $50 million settlement Apple has agreed to in response to allegations it hid a known keyboard design flaw from customers.
Apple agreed to the multimillion-dollar payout in July, and a California court granted preliminary approval on Nov. 28.
MacBook Pro owners have started to receive emails and postcards notifying them they are eligible for payment, and the settlement website began accepting claims on Dec. 12.
Below, find out more about the MacBook settlement, including who qualifies for money, how much you could get from Apple and how to submit a claim.
What is Apple accused of in the class action suit?
Apple introduced its “butterfly” keyboard design in 2015 in its 12-inch MacBook. The keys were attached with a wing-like hinge, as opposed to traditional keyboards, which use two pieces of plastic that, when pressed, cross each other and close like a pair of scissors.
At the time, the tech giant said the butterfly design was 40% slimmer, meaning its laptops could be too. But customers complained about the propensity for the keys to be sticky and miss or repeat typed characters.
The first-generation butterfly keyboard from 2015.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Apple launched a repair program that covered MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops in 2018. But it only replaced old butterfly keyboards with new ones.
Finally, in 2019, Apple phased out the butterfly design and introduced a redesigned Magic Keyboard that once more relied on a scissor-switch mechanism.
The butterfly design “had some things it did really well,” then-Apple marketing director Phil Schiller told CNET that year. “It felt more firm and flat under your finger — some people really like that, but other people weren’t really happy with that.”
Schiller also acknowledged there were “quality issues we had to work on.”
In a class action lawsuit filed in California in 2018, a group of plaintiffs claimed Apple knew about the quality issues and “fraudulently concealed” them from customers.
As a result, they claimed, laptops were knowingly equipped with keyboards that could result in “characters repeating unexpectedly; letters or characters not appearing; and/or the keys feeling ‘sticky’ or not responding in a consistent manner,” according to the settlement website.
Apple didn’t respond to a request for comment, but in filings, it denied any wrongdoing.
Who is eligible for a payment from Apple?
If you bought a MacBook between 2015 and 2019 and had to replace the keyboard or individual keys, you are eligible for compensation.
If you’re not sure if your model is covered, you can check here.
How much money could I get from the MacBook keyboard settlement?
The amount of the individual payout depends on how many repairs you had to have on your MacBook.
Consumers who had to swap out multiple keyboards within four years of purchase are considered Group 1 Settlement Class Members. They are eligible for an estimated payment of between $300 and $395 and should be receiving an email this month.
You can still qualify for Group 1 so long as you require two or more topcase replacements before Nov. 28, 2024. (The topcase houses the keyboard and other components.)
If you believe you’re part of Group 1 but didn’t receive a notification, you can call the claims administrator at 855-579-1311. (You can also fill out a change of address form, if needed.)
If you had to replace the keyboard once, you’re considered part of the Group 2 Settlement Class and could receive as much as $125. You’ll need to submit a claim form, though.
And if you only had to replace individual keycaps, you’re eligible for up to $50. (You’ll also have to submit a claim form.)
How do I file a claim in the Apple butterfly-keyboard settlement?
You can submit a claim on the settlement website or mail a completed form to:
re: MacBook Keyboard Litigation Settlement
c/o JND Legal Administration
PO Box 91341
Seattle, WA 98111
For all class members, if Apple doesn’t have a record of your repair or purchase, you’ll have to provide proof of purchase or repair.
The deadline to file a claim is 11:59 p.m. PT on March 6, 2023. If you want to object to the settlement — or exclude yourself and retain the right to separate litigation — the deadline to notify the court is Feb. 10, 2023.
When will I get my money?
A final approval hearing is scheduled for March 16, 2023. Any payments would go out after that, but the process could be delayed by appeals.
In a year packed with numerous phone releases, Apple’s iPhone 14 lineup is curious. There is the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, which represent the pinnacle of the company’s design, software and hardware. The iPhone 14 Pro is notably defined by an oval-shaped screen cut-out for the True Depth camera, which replaces the notch, called the Dynamic Island. But then, there’s the iPhone 14 which seems like a repackaged iPhone 13 Pro without the stainless steel body or the third rear camera for telephoto pictures.
Apple discontinued the iPhone 13 Mini and replaced it with a bigger version of the 14 called the iPhone 14 Plus. Starting at $929, it’s meant to be a slightly “more affordable” way to get a large screen iPhone without crossing that $1,000 line. Taken in total, you have two high-end Pro iPhone models, a big-screen regular iPhone and the standard iPhone 14, which on the surface doesn’t seem like much of an upgrade from the iPhone 13. Apple’s lineup offers exciting new features while also seeming like a curious repeat of what came out last year.
Over the past three months, I used the iPhone 14 as my daily driver and the 14 Pro as my work phone. During that time, I ran in-depth battery tests, took numerous photos, used them to film CNET videos and tried out the new Emergency SOS via Satellite feature. Several of my CNET colleagues have also tested the cameras and compared them to the likes of the Google Pixel 7 Pro and Galaxy S22 Ultra. Here are my thoughts on the iPhone 14 family since my initial reviews back in September.
The iPhone 14’s battery doesn’t last as long as the iPhone 13
I’ve never met a single person who said, “Wow, I get too much battery life on my phone.” But I have definitely met many who have wanted more. A phone’s battery life lands at an interesting crossroads. You have the physical and chemical limits of modern lithium batteries as well as the clever software and processing optimizations that aim to make those batteries more efficient.
Apple doesn’t disclose the size of the batteries in its phones, but I wish it did because they’re relatively small compared to the batteries in Android phones. This isn’t about shaming Apple, but highlighting how much longevity the company ekes out of that battery through software optimizations and the efficiency of its A-series chips. In fact, last year’s iPhone 13 Pro Max lasted longer on a single charge than any other phone we tested.
The same can’t be said for this year. The iPhone 14 series gets good battery life but is definitely a step down from the iPhone 13 family, which gets longer battery life. The difference wasn’t drastic, and I imagine most people aren’t upgrading their phone every year and would never be the wiser.
At CNET, we run a few battery life tests and note how long the phones last in real life. The first test I ran with each phone was an endurance test. For 45 minutes, I played video games (some were online) as well as watched videos, scrolled through social media apps like TikTok and Instagram and made a video call over FaceTime. During that time, the iPhone 14’s battery decreased 10%, the 14 Plus dropped 5%, the 14 Pro lost 8% and the 14 Pro Max went down 7%.
I also fully charged each phone, then played a downloaded video looped in Airplane mode with the screen at 50% brightness. We’ve been running this test at CNET for years, and are in the process of phasing it out since software and chips now optimize for video playback. And most people watch streaming videos.
So why run this test? It allows us to compare Apple’s claims for video playback as well as with the outcome we got with the iPhone 13 series. The results are below.
Video playback test results
Phone
Apple’s claim
Our results
iPhone 14
20 hours
18 hours 45 minutes
iPhone 14 Pro
23 hours
20 hours
iPhone 14 Plus
26 hours
25 hours
iPhone 14 Pro Max
29 hours
26 hours 15 minutes
These times also come up short when compared to the iPhone 13 series. The regular 13 lasted 21 hours and 51 minutes, the 13 Pro went 22 hours and 4 minutes and the 13 Pro Max scored an outstanding 31 hours and 19 minutes. I should also note that the 13 Mini lasted 18 hours and 19 minutes which is almost as long as the regular iPhone 14.
There has been a lot of chatter around the always-on display on the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max and how it’s draining the battery. In our tests, the always-on display didn’t decrease the battery life in any significant way compared to having it off.
I charged both phones to 100% and left them on my desk with the always-on screen enabled. After 6 hours, the 14 Pro dropped 4% and the 14 Pro Max lost 2%. I ran the same scenario again, but this time turned off the always-on display. The results were essentially the same: the 14 Pro dropped 4% and the 14 Pro Max dropped 3%.
A lot of this will depend on your lock screen wallpaper, since the always-on display isn’t a black screen and instead shows a darkened version of your wallpaper photo. Luckily, iOS 16.2 has new always-on display settings that let you turn off the wallpaper and have just a black screen.
Emergency SOS via Satellite helped three people get rescued
Emergency SOS via Satellite and Car Crash Detection (or maybe it should be called “I’m on a roller coaster with an iPhone 14 detection”) might be two of the best features on the regular iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. But they are largely invisible tools that most people will hopefully never have to use.
I Tried Emergency SOS via Satellite on the iPhone 14
Features like these are important, and I do think they help the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus stand out. But I don’t know if most people would prioritize them as something they must have on a phone. After a few months, it’s crystal clear that the standard iPhone 14 is aimed at people upgrading from an iPhone 11 or older and not from last year’s iPhone 13.
More Dynamic Island, please
The Dynamic Island displays different tiny icons and animations. During a FaceTime call, a green camera icon shows on the left side.
Celso Bulgatti/CNET
The Dynamic Island works well. but it’s not without quirks. For example, the Dynamic Island sticks out further into the screen than the notch did, which is noticeable when watching some videos. I also wish that more non-Apple apps took advantage of the Dynamic Island.
Also, we haven’t had the full experience with the Dynamic Island that Apple intended. It’s part of a trinity of features that also includes the always-on display and Live Activities, which tracks the progress of certain activities like showing you the live score of a basketball team on your lock screen. The Dynamic Island will truly shine once apps fully adopt Live Activities which should be sooner than later now that iOS 16.2 is out.
There are scratches on my Ceramic Shield
My iPhone 14 Pro Max already has a couple of tiny scratches.
Celso Bulgatti/CNET
All four models in the iPhone 14 series have Apple’s Ceramic Shield that covers the display. And all four of the phones I tested have scuffs or minor scratches on the front glass. I haven’t coddled the phones, but I haven’t been reckless with them either. After nearly three months, I’m shocked that all of these phones have scratches.
The iPhone 14 Pro’s cameras are excellent
The main camera on the back of the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max has a 48-megapixel sensor.
James Martin/CNET
The cameras on the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are good. But the cameras on the iPhone 14 Pro’s and 14 Pro Max’s are great. Does that mean you can’t get quality photos on the 14 and 14 Plus? Absolutely not. But the ones I captured on the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max and their 48-megapixel main camera are consistently great. Unfortunately, you have to shoot ProRaw photos to take full advantage of the iPhone 14 Pro’s full camera resolution, and these images have dramatically larger file sizes. I wish there was a built-in way to save and quickly convert the ProRaw photos into JPEGs.
One surprise for me has been Cinematic mode. It can record in 4K video at 24 frames per second or 30fps, and I’ve actually used it to film several CNET videos. The quality is good, and the overall experience with Cinematic mode is much better than it is on the iPhone 13. (Apple’s previous phone was limited to 1080p resolution at 30fps in that mode.) One trick I use to get more natural looking videos is to drop Cinematic mode’s aperture setting to f/8. I find this gives the background a more realistic out-of-focus look while keeping the subject in focus.
The iPhone 14 is more expensive even if the price didn’t go up
The baseline iPhone 14 is $829, which is the same as the iPhone 12 and 13 when they launched. But there is a difference. In 2020 and 2021, Apple also sold the iPhone 12 Mini and 13 Mini at $729. That essentially means the barrier to entry for a new iPhone is now more expensive, since the Mini isn’t part of the iPhone 14 lineup. To alleviate the price, Apple and US carriers have a ton of trade-in deals. Apple also still sells the iPhone 13 for $729, which can save you some money.
Then there’s the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, which are Apple’s most expensive models. They have the same starting prices as the 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max and as the 2018 iPhone XS and XS Max when they came out. Basically, the prices for Apple’s top-of-the-line models haven’t increased but they are hard to find. Apple scaled back production on the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max because of COVID-19 lockdowns in China. Currently, the iPhone 14 Pro is showing shipping times of three-and-a-half weeks.
If you’re trying to get an iPhone 14 Pro as a gift for someone, your best bet is to try carriers and third-party retailers. However, Apple’s retail stores typically get more restock. And I wouldn’t dissuade you from ordering an iPhone 14 Pro. It’s an excellent phone and will still be one in three-and-a-half weeks.
Three months later, I am still impressed with the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro. The cameras are great, Emergency SOS provides more peace of mind, but the ceramic shield isn’t as durable as I expected. And the battery life isn’t as long as last year’s iPhone 13 lineup. But whether you’re upgrading from an older iPhone to an iPhone 14 or just want Apple’s absolute best, the iPhone 14 Pro, you should find something that fits your needs, budget and tastes.
iPhone 14 Pro, Pro Max Get the Biggest Changes to Apple’s Phone Lineup
