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We all have plenty of devices to keep powered up every day, so a good charging station is an essential purchase these days. And right now, you can pick one up from one of the biggest names in power-related accessories with the Anker MagGo Qi2 magnetic charging station discounted by 20% at Amazon. This device was only recently released, unveiled in January at CES, and today’s price is the lowest we’ve seen it go. Just be sure to clip the on-page coupon for the 20% discount and grab this eight-in-one device for $80 when you do.

Wireless chargers are ideal if you want to avoid the hassle of having to constantly plug your phone into charge, especially if you tend to lose cables a lot. Anker’s magnetic charging station offers you auto-aligning magnetic charging, plus it also provides you with seven other ports and plugs for you to power up devices with. Those seven other charging options include three AC outlets, two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports, and you can use all eight at once.

That means you can plop it on your desk and charge everything, from your phone to your laptop. In fact, with up to 67-watt charging available, you can get a MacBook Air up to 50% in around 25 minutes using the high-powered USB-C slot, so it’s quite handy. Note that the charging speeds per port vary depending on how many other ports are in use, so you’ll experience slower charging speeds per device the more you plug in at once.

As for the wireless charger, it’s Qi2-certified, meaning you get speedy 15-watt charging, and it works with the latest iPhones as well, so you have no worries there. The whole thing is run by Anker’s internal chip, which optimizes charging and makes sure it’s safe and efficient and with heat dissipation considerations prevent overheating.

Overall, it’s a solid pick if you’re looking for something that can handle multiple devices and charge at a high capacity. So if you’ve recently nabbed a new phone deal and want a modern charging station to go with it, this Anker device is a great option.

Getting through an airport from baggage check to your gate can sometimes be a lengthy process, and it can be especially frustrating when you’re strapped for time. A new feature available at some airports and through a couple of airlines may be of significant help if you’re a TSA PreCheck traveler.

A small set of airlines and airports are letting TSA PreCheck passengers use a touchless ID program when checking bags and walking through the PreCheck lines. Instead of showing ID, travelers’ faces will be scanned using the Transportation Security Administration’s facial recognition technology.

We’ll tell you below which airports and airlines are offering the touchless ID option. Interested in other technologies the TSA is working on? Check out these security pods the administration showed off at CES this year.

Which airports are participating?

Right now, there’s a small number of airports participating in the touchless ID program for TSA PreCheck passengers. Here’s what they are.

• Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

In the future, American Airlines will have its own touchless ID program.

Which airlines are offering the touchless ID option?

Only two airlines are currently offering a touchless ID option when going through airport security. Here’s what they are.

United Airlines: TSA PreCheck passengers can choose the airline’s Touchless ID program when flying through the above airports. This means they won’t have to show a boarding pass or a driver’s license. Instead, customers can use their faces as identification to go through TSA PreCheck lines and when checking their bags at the entrance.

When checking a bag, TSA PreCheck customers should look for a shortcut kiosk where they can drop off their bags. Their photo will be taken at this kiosk and a tag for their luggage will be printed. Their photo will also be taken at the TSA PreCheck security checkpoint.

The Points Guy says before May 2024, you may still be required to show a physical form of ID, so be prepared.

Delta Airlines: TSA PreCheck passengers can use Delta’s Digital ID option to fly without showing their ID. This option uses the customer’s saved passport information to match the photo taken at the security checkpoint.

Delta also offers touchless ID while dropping off bags, and the option is available at multiple airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA), as well as the airports mentioned above.

How to get TSA PreCheck and use the touchless ID option

You’ll first need to apply to join the TSA PreCheck program. Approval for that could take up to 60 days, but the TSA says it generally only takes three to five days.

For United, you’ll need to upload your passport and your Known Traveler Number (KTN) to the United app. When checking in for the flight, you can select facial scan as your form of ID and give United permission to scan your face.

For Delta, you’ll opt in using the Fly Delta app by uploading your passport and KTN. During check-in when you look at your boarding pass, you should see a green button that says Digital ID.

For more, here’s the deadline for when you’ll need a Real ID to fly.

If you want something a bit on the higher end when it comes to earbuds, these Status Between 3ANC are an impressive option worth considering. In fact, they’ve shown up several times on our lists, such as our favorite best-sounding wireless earbuds and best noise-canceling earbuds. You can even score significant savings if you use CNET’s exclusive promo code. Just enter CNETDISCOUNT at checkout to bring them down by $100 from their launch price, meaning you’ll pay just $149.

One thing that sets the Status Between 3ANC apart from other earbuds is that they have three drivers, giving you a much wider range of audio than you might expect. Granted, they may not compete with higher-end headphones and only support the AAC audio codec, but they’re really good for the price. Also, they have multipoint Bluetooth, so you can connect to two devices at the same time.

They also have active noise canceling, and they do a pretty good job of cutting out ambient sounds, which is great if you want to go exercise or use them in the office. The Between 3ANC also offers PX5 water resistance, so they can withstand some of the elements when using them outside. And their fit is surprisingly comfortable, according to CNET’s audio expert David Carnoy, even though they may look a little bit wonky and bulky.

Overall, they’re an interesting pair of headphones, and with the discount code CNETDISCOUNT knocking an extra $30 off the current discounted rate, you can get them for a very good price. Even so, if you’d still like to see a few different options, check out these earbud deals as well.

Apple released iOS 17.4 on Tuesday, more than a month after the tech giant released iOS 17.3. While the latest update brings new emoji to all users and new app store capabilities to people in the European Union, it also patches a few issues that Apple said might be actively exploited.

To download the update, go to Settings > General > Software Update, tap Install Now and follow the onscreen prompts.

According to Apple, iOS 17.4 patches two security issues, which affect your iPhone’s kernel and RTKit. The kernel is the software at the core of your operating system, while RTKit is Apple’s real-time operating system. A real-time operating system is used when a large number of events must be accepted or processed in a certain amount of time, according to the computer science resource site Geeks for Geeks.

Apple writes that in both instances, “An attacker with arbitrary kernel read and write capability may be able to bypass kernel memory protections.”

Memory protections control how much memory a process has access to. According to Geeks for Geeks, these protections can stop software from taking over an excessive amount of memory, which could harm other software on your device or cause you to lose some of your data. Your system could be severely damaged if a malicious actor were to bypass these protections.

The patches in iOS 17.4 also address a few other issues, like a private browsing bug in Safari, which could cause your private locked tabs to be momentarily visible while switching tab groups. However, Apple didn’t say that these other issues could be actively exploited.

For more on iOS, here are all the new features in iOS 17.4, what was included in iOS 17.3 and our iOS 17 cheat sheet.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a sequel to 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake and the second in a trilogy of games modernizing and expanding the 1997 classic Final Fantasy VII. As such, it’s a middle chapter in a series of games and has a lengthy average playtime of 70 to 80 hours — so there’s a lot that might be helpful for players to know going in.

Like the game it follows, Rebirth is an action-filled role-playing game (otherwise known as an action-RPG), with real-time combat and lots of customization in how you arrange your assortment of characters. Remake had a pretty linear story, confined to the gloomy industrial city of Midgar. Rebirth, on the other hand, has massive and beautiful open world areas, with a seemingly endless stream of side quests, minigames and areas of interest to explore.

Read more: Best Phone to Buy For 2024

I’ve played more than 85 hours of Rebirth and I still have three chapters of the game to go, so I can confidently say this game is enormous — and probably has something for everyone. On the flip side, however, there are sure to be activities and sections that won’t tickle your fancy. Just know that much of the game, including most of the open world areas, is totally optional.

That said, I’d recommend going through as many side quests as you can — each pairs Cloud with either Tifa, Aerith, Barrett or another member of the party on a little adventure that varies in tone from whimsical jaunt to tender backstory exposition. Going on these side quests raises a relationship meter for each party member as they open up to our spiky-haired protagonist.

Many of the minigames are optional, but they often have rich rewards waiting for players who beat the high score. They’re pretty transparent about what you’ll earn, so I won’t spend time on which ones are worth doing — but I will recommend completing the Segway minigame. It’s pretty easy, requiring only that you have Cloud scoot around on the dorkiest transit mode in the game for a set distance, and the prize you win is an equip-and-forget accessory that’ll set you up nicely for the late game.

For the rest of the tips, I’ll be as spoiler-free for Rebirth as possible, with light references to mundane stuff found in areas later in the game. Here are five things to know when starting Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

Recap: What happened in Final Fantasy VII Remake

Heads up: This section contains slight spoilers for Final Fantasy VII Remake. They’re slight, but if you haven’t yet played the game, I’m advising you now not to spoil it for yourself!

The first game in the trilogy set the tone for what’s to come in a series that adapts and expands the original 1997 game into a trilogy. So there are plenty of side characters and moments in Remake that weren’t in the original… or were very different.

The conceit at the center of Remake is that Cloud and company’s adventure diverts from how Final Fantasy VII originally played out — and eventually they have to directly fight the ghostly Whispers trying to keep the party on destiny’s set path. It’s a clever way for the game’s creator, Square Enix, to modernize some of the most cherished parts of the much-loved original game while giving players something new to chew on — namely, should the story they know so well be changed?

Square Enix has its own official recap of Remake, which is available in the main menu of Rebirth and on YouTube — the shorter three-minute version is above, but the five-minute version has more context. However, there are plenty of additional characters and references that will pop up in Rebirth, so I recommend a lengthier recap: this 12-minute video by Another Eden Adventures is helpfully thorough.

Because Rebirth continues Remake’s diversion from the plot of the original Final Fantasy VII (though it’s pretty faithful until the last hours of the game), you’ll get the most out of the story by having played the classic game. But it’s by no means essential: I got only halfway through the original and I’m still over the moon about Rebirth.

Know where to go in the game’s areas

Once you’ve fired up Rebirth and gotten through the first chapter, which serves as a prologue, the game gives you an open map and tells you to get exploring. In general, there are two types of areas: the open world regions and big towns.

Open world regions are huge swaths of land filled with points of interest in several categories, and each one needs to be interacted with to finish an area (and get experience points to spend on magic-granting materia from Chadley — more on him below). Like other open world games, there are towers to be conquered, which will put nearby points of interest on your map.

Lifestream nodes will give you backstory of the region and reveal areas you can dig up with your chocobo to develop new crafting recipes. (Yes, there’s crafting — no, it’s actually helpful.) Dangerous packs of enemies can be defeated to eventually unlock new moves in the Enemy Skill materia, and a final regional boss offers items for awesome craftable accessories. Moogle Huts offer rare items to buy with all the moogle coins you’ve been collecting (after you finish a minigame, of course). And “protorelic” hunts offer a subplot in the game that, when completed through all areas, may offer a huge reward.

Towns, on the other hand, are where you spend your downtime. Here are the weapon shops, which will offer weapons if you miss them in the field (look for purple chests); item shops to stock up on potions, phoenix downs and card packs for the in-universe card game Queen’s Blood; and bookstores, which let you unlock more of your party member’s skills via a Sphere Grid-like board. You’ll also find Queen’s Blood players to challenge, side quests found on big community boards, and Chadley, who’ll trade open world intel (e.g. completed points of interest) for materia.

Chadley also has VR challenges, which can be completed for more magic-unlocking materia — when you start the game, you should do each character’s starting VR mission, which will walk you through their fighting style (and reward you with easy materia). Even returning characters from Remake have had their skill sets slightly changed, so it’s worth doing these to familiarize yourself and get some easy rewards.

Travel fast, save time

Though Remake was limited to a linear story through the slums and skyscrapers of Midgar, Rebirth is wide open, containing a total of six enormous regions with plenty to discover as you roam around filling in the blank edges of the map.

The first thing you’ll want to do in every region is find the chocobo ranch or stables. Not only do chocobos serve as mounts that get you around faster, you can’t fast travel without them. You’ll have to do a side quest or minigame to unlock the chocobo in every region, but they’re worth it.

Fast travel is also pretty generous in this game and essential to use to save time, which is important when you’ll be putting in hours and hours. Here’s where real-life technology rules, as the PS5 you’re playing Rebirth on has ultra-fast loading speeds thanks to its SSD. Don’t hesitate to fast travel even short distances. The catch is you’ll have to discover a point of interest before you can fast travel to it, so make that extra hike to a tower or other area so you can warp back to it later.

Several regions have other modes of transport you can use alongside or instead of chocobos in certain areas — if the game says you can’t go any farther on your chocobo, you’ll probably need a specialty vehicle.

Also, most regions have their own bonus travel gimmick for chocobos, from climbing walls to bouncing on mushrooms. Sometimes you’ll be able to tell by environmental cues, other times by holographic icons.

Don’t worry about hitting everything right now

Cloud and company will venture through the regions in a straightforward path from one open world area to the next, but you’ll find ways to come back to previous areas. If you’re getting tired of finishing the open world checklist where you are, move on and come back later. Most of these transit options are from one adjacent region to the next, but later in the game you’ll be able to hop back to any of them for a paltry fee.

Even late into the game — through the 70 hours I’ve played — nothing is locked out. Feel free to progress the story and leave the laundry list of open world tasks or tough minigames until later.

This also applies to annoyingly tough optional bosses. Though many of them scale to your level, like the summons you can fight through Chadley’s VR challenges, your characters will get stronger as the game progresses. Raising your weapon level and getting more-advanced armor will dramatically increase the number of materia each character can equip, while accessories only get better as the game progresses.

Give up on what’s not fun

Through the scores of hours you’ll play Rebirth, you’ll inevitably find something you just don’t click with. Trust me, there’s more than enough in the game to entertain you, so feel free to leave things behind to come back to later — or never.

For the most part, the extras in this game are fun and worth experiencing, even persevering through for crucial items. But I certainly struggled with some of the minigames, forswearing the materia or accessory teasing me from the winner’s podium that I just couldn’t reach. And I’ll be the first to tell you that some side quests offer pretty lame rewards, making the time invested feel like a wash.

The in-game pastime Queen’s Blood is a card game, which doesn’t appeal to everyone. There are a handful of essential matches to play in the main story, so learning the basics would be helpful. You can also assemble preset decks to give you good hints at card strategies. But by all means, skip it if you don’t have the heart of the cards — there are other activities to enjoy.

Lastly, don’t worry too much if you skip a lot of the optional stuff to stick to the story — the game doesn’t seem to have as many tough-yet-unskippable bosses as Remake (no Hell House equivalent so far), so players shouldn’t feel the need to grind nonessential activities to keep up with story battles. Just be mindful of your materia — equip an HP Up for each character and pack a leveled-up Cleansing materia, just in case.

Apple released iOS 17.4 to the general public on Tuesday, more than a month after iOS 17.3 was released to the general public. The latest iOS update brings new features, including major changes for people in the European Union and new emoji, as well as bug fixes to your iPhone.

To download the update, go to Settings > General > Software Update, tap Install Now and follow the onscreen prompts.

Here’s what iOS 17.3 brings to your iPhone.

Downloading other app stores in the EU

Apple introduced a significant change to Safari, the App Store and iOS with iOS 17.4, but only for people in Europe. With iOS 17.4, people in the EU can download an alternative app store and apps from outside the App Store. As CNET’s Katie Collins reports, this marks one of the largest changes to the App Store since its inception in 2008. People in the EU will also be given new default app controls, giving them more ways to customize their iPhone experience.

Apple made these changes, which were announced in January, to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act.

Read more: Apple Will Allow Installation of Rival App Stores On iPhones In Europe

More options for in-app payments

Apple introduced more ways to make in-app payments with iOS 17.4. If you go to Settings > Privacy & Security, you’ll see an option called Contactless & NFC, or near-field communication. If you tap the new option, you’ll be taken to a mostly blank page that has a small disclaimer that says the page will show apps that have requested the ability to use contactless and NFC payments in the future. Apple announced these options alongside the changes for people in the EU, and there’s no word on whether this will be utilized by apps outside that region.

At least 100 new emoji

Apple introduced over 100 new emoji to iPhone users with iOS 17.4. Those emoji include heads shaking up and down or left and right, a phoenix and a slice of lime. These emoji were announced in 2023, and some Android devices, including the latest Samsung phones, already have them.

Improved iMessage security against future threats

With iOS 17.4, your iMessage chats get a security boost to protect them from cyberattacks that involve quantum computing. According to CNET’s David Lumb, Apple said it hasn’t seen these kinds of cyberattacks yet, but the company wants to get ahead of the potential threat now.

Read more: Apple’s Next iOS Update Protects iMessage Against Future Quantum Computing Attacks

Podcasts can now show transcripts

In iOS 17.4, you can read the transcripts of your favorite podcasts as you listen to them. To see the transcripts, go into the Podcasts app and start listening to a show, then tap the show’s banner across the bottom of your screen. Look at the bottom of the show’s title card and you’ll see a new button in the bottom left corner that looks like a speech bubble with quotes inside it. Tap this button and you’ll see the transcript of the show you’re listening to.

You can search within the transcript, too, so if someone mentions a book or movie title and you only remember part of it, you can search the part you do know and find the whole title.

Read more: Apple Music Launches Monthly Version of Replay

Virtual card numbers come to Apple Cash

Your Apple Cash gets an upgrade with iOS 17.4, too. Now you can have a virtual card that can access your Apple Cash. This card comes with its own number, expiration date and three-digit security code, like a physical card. You can also easily request a new card number if you think your card has been compromised.

This feature is helpful if you want to use your Apple Cash at an online store that doesn’t accept Apple Pay.

Another digital clock widget

In iOS 17.4, Apple introduced a new digital clock app widget called City Digital. This widget displays the time as well as a set location as opposed to wherever your iPhone is at the moment. This can be helpful if you’re traveling or live far from family and friends but want to keep in touch without waking them up in the middle of the night.

Apple introduced the digital clock widget to iPhones with the release of iOS 17.2.

More Stolen Device Protection options

Apple introduced a few new options in Stolen Device Protection with iOS 17.4. The new options let you choose whether you want to always require a one-hour security delay to access certain settings or make changes, or to only require the delay when you’re away from a familiar location like your home.

Apple introduced Stolen Device Protection with iOS 17.3, and the intent of the feature is to protect some of your data if your device is stolen or falls into nefarious hands. The feature doesn’t protect all your data, but Apple still recommends everyone turn it on.

New Battery Health readout for iPhone 15 models

With iOS 17.4, iPhone 15 models get a new Battery Health readout. If you go to Settings > Battery, you’ll see a new option which tells you the status of your battery’s health in a word, like Normal or Service. You can also tap this option for more details about your battery, like its cycle count and maximum capacity. Before, your iPhone would show a percentage in relation to your battery’s health without any indication of what it means.

Read more: iOS 17.4’s New Tool Shows if Your iPhone 15’s Battery Health Is Normal

New Home button in the Music and Books apps

Apple introduced a Home button in Apple Music and the Books app with iOS 17.4. If you open either app and look at the bottom of your screen, the Home button is in the far-left corner. This button replaced Listen Now in Apple Music and Read Now in Books.

If you’re an Apple Music subscriber and tap the button, you’re taken to a page that shows you menus, like Recently Played, and recommendations based on artists you’ve listened to. If you tap this button in the Books app, you see menus like Current Bestsellers and Start Reading for Free.

Previous iOS updates brought Home buttons to the Podcasts and Apple TV apps, so this change is likely Apple trying to apply some uniformity across its apps.

Siri can send messages in more than one language

In iOS 17.4, Apple gave Siri the ability to send messages in multiple languages. If you go to Settings > Siri & Search, you’ll see the option Messaging with Siri, which replaced Automatically Send Messages. Tap Messaging with Siri and you’ll see Add Language. If you tap this, you can have Siri send messages in other languages, like Arabic, Spanish and Thai. Apple writes that Siri will also read messages using the languages in this list, but choosing one from this list won’t change the primary language Siri listens and responds in. Prior to this, Siri could only send messages in English.

New Apple CarPlay and Maps experience in certain vehicles

With iOS 17.4, if you use Apple CarPlay with Maps in certain supported vehicles, you’ll see a new instrument cluster.

“With supported CarPlay vehicles, Apple Maps will present a new instrument cluster experience with information about upcoming maneuvers,” Apple wrote online. “Users will be able to swap the desired display type between the main and instrument cluster screen by tapping the map configuration button on the upper right of the Maps main screen.”

However, Apple didn’t say which vehicles support this new feature, and the company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Here are the full release notes for iOS 17.4.

Emoji

New mushroom, phoenix, lime, broken chain, and shaking heads emoji are now available in the emoji keyboard.

18 people and body emoji add the option to face them in either direction.

Apple Podcasts

Transcripts let you follow an episode with text that highlights in sync with the audio in English, Spanish, French and German.

Episode text can be read in full, searched for a word or phrase, tapped to play from a specific point and used with accessibility features such as Text Size, Increase Contrast and VoiceOver.

This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:

Music recognition lets you add songs you have identified to your Apple Music Playlists and Library, as well as Apple Music Classic.

Siri has a new option to announce messages you receive in any supported language.

Stolen Device Protection supports the option for increased security in all locations.

Battery Health in Settings shows battery cycle count, manufacture date, and first use on iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models.

Call Identification displays Apple-verified business name, logo and department name when available.

Business updates in Messages for Business provide trusted information for order status, flight notifications, fraud alerts or other transactions you opt into.

Apple Cash virtual card numbers enable you to pay with Apple Cash at merchants that don’t yet accept Apple Pay by typing in your number from Wallet or using Safari AutoFill.

Fixes an issue where contact pictures are blank in Find My.

Fixes an issue for Dual SIM users where the phone number changes from primary to secondary and is visible to a group they have messaged.

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:

https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

For more on iOS 17, check out all the new features that were included in iOS 17.3 and iOS 17.2. You can also check out our iOS 17 cheat sheet.

If you aren’t familiar with Beats, it’s a brand that makes some of the best wireless headphones and wireless earbuds on the market, and it’s known for being a bit more funky and trendy. Of course, more importantly, the brand was bought out by Apple, meaning that Beats products have the same level of smooth integration with Apple gear as the AirPods do. Beats also tend to be cheaper, but even so, you’ll still want to take advantage of this multi-retailer sale that knocks up to 43% off the price.

Amazon is currently offering a swath of Beats headphones and earbuds with discounts of up to 43% off. Be sure to check the prices though — not every color and design is included. There are still tons of options to choose from, whether you’re looking for small and light earbuds or some of the biggest and boomiest headphones you can find.

Amazon isn’t the only outlet offering these discounts, either. Best Buy is now offering Beats products with savings of up to $150 off, while Apple is also getting in on the act. It isn’t often you see Apple offer special prices like this, but the majority of its latest Beats products are seeing the same savings if you prefer to buy direct from the source.

The biggest discount currently on offer is on the top-end Beats Studio Pro headphones, with multiple color options available. Costing just $200, these headphones offer a lot for the money. Support for lossless audio via the USB-C connection and battery life of up to 40 hours are two examples, while personalized spatial audio and strong ANC performance certainly don’t hurt, either.

Those who prefer earbuds to headphones should definitely check out the Beats Studio Buds, down to $100 from $150, while the Beats Powerbeats Pro, at $180, are a great option for those who want to wear their earbuds to the gym.

With so many Beats options on the table here there should be something for everyone. But if you don’t see something that fits the bill for you, our list of the best headphone and earbud deals will get you sorted out in no time.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick, offers hundreds of games that you can play on your Xbox Series X or Series S, Xbox One and PC for $17 a month. With a subscription, you get new games every month — like the Resident Evil 3 remake — and other benefits, like online multiplayer and deals on non-Game Pass titles.

In February, Microsoft added a game based on the lovable cartoon dog Bluey and the dark humor zombie title Dead Island 2 to Game Pass Ultimate. Here are the titles Xbox will add to the game service soon.

PAW Patrol World

Available: March 7

Get ready to use your paws to save the day in this action-adventure game based on the ubiquitous children’s cartoon. You can play as your favorite pup, drive vehicles from the show and take on rescue missions to help animals in need. You can play on your own in single-player mode or compete with your family in co-op mode for a fun spin on playtime.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated

Available: March 12

If the Krusty Krab pizza is the pizza for you and me, then it stands to reason that this game is the game for you and me, too. Play as SpongeBob, Patrick and Sandy as you try and stop Plankton from taking over Bikini Bottom. And if you bought the SpongeBob SquarePants-themed Xbox Series X, what better game to play first on your new console?

Control: Ultimate Edition

Available: March 13

If you haven’t experienced this award-winning title from the creators of the Alan Wake series, now’s your chance. This supernatural action game takes place in an expansive government office building that has been corrupted by an unknown entity. You have to find out what happened in this unpredictable world all while avoiding the absurd obstacles in your way — sometimes that means flying over them.

No More Heroes 3

Available: March 14

World-renowned assassin Travis Touchdown is back in the saddle in this hack-and-slash adventure game. Take control of Travis and his trusty beam katana — don’t say lightsaber — as he defends his hometown from an alien invasion. And the only way to do that is to climb the ranks of the deadliest fighters in the galaxy. It’s like an anime made into a video game.

Lightyear Frontier

Available: March 19

If you’ve ever thought, “Yeah, farm life games like Stardew Valley are fun, but they need more Gundams,” then this one is for you. In this game, you’re a farmer building an interstellar homestead full of alien crops and fauna, all with the help of your trusty mech suit.

“Use combat-focused tools in a violence-free way, such as a chainsaw and machine gun loaded with seeds, as instead of fighting the wildlife, you’ll use your arsenal to gather resources, shoot seeds into the ground, water crops, and clean up the environment, making it habitable for you and your friends,” Anita Stenholm, marketing and events manager of Frame Break, told Xbox.com.

MLB The Show 24

Available: March 19

Xbox added Madden NFL 24 to Game Pass Ultimate in February, and now Xbox is adding MLB The Show 24 to the service on Day 1. You can play as your favorite baseball team, get them to the World Series and make them a dynasty. This installment in the baseball series also includes new pitcher animations to keep runners on their toes, enhanced pitching mechanics and more.

And if you can’t wait for March 19, Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can purchase the digital deluxe add-on bundle version of the game for $40 and get the title four days early on March 15.

Titles leaving Game Pass

While you can play the above titles on Game Pass Ultimate, three games are leaving the service on March 15. So finish up any side quests or you’ll have to purchase these titles separately.

• Shredders

• Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered
• Hardspace: Shipbreaker

For more on Xbox, here’s what Diablo 4 coming to Game Pass likely means for the service, other titles available on Game Pass Ultimate now and everything to know about the gaming service.

We live in a connected world, where losing your cell phone signal doesn’t just mean you can’t check Instagram. The stakes are now higher, and having no connection could mean getting stuck in the middle of nowhere without directions or missing out on important travel updates and advisories.

That’s why it’s important to know the tips and tricks that work to improve your phone’s reception, like toggling Airplane mode or resetting your network settings. In this story, we’ll take a look at some tried-and-true approaches, as well as some more unique methods, that can help get your phone working at peak performance.

Here’s what you need to know.

Note: Although software across different iPhone models is relatively the same, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and other Android devices may have different software versions, and so certain settings and where they are located might differ from device to device.

For more, check out how you can use Google Maps when you’re offline and how you can maybe fix your internet when it’s down.

To improve your cell phone service, try these steps first

The settings on your phone can help you get better cell service, but there are other tricks for improving your reception without even touching your phone’s software.

• Move yourself so that there are no obstructions between your phone and any cell towers outside. That might involve stepping away from metal objects or concrete walls, which both kill reception. Instead, get to a window or go outside if possible.
• Remove your phone case. It doesn’t hurt to remove whatever case you have on your phone, especially if it’s thick, so that the phone’s antenna isn’t blocked by anything and can get a better signal.
• Make sure your phone is charged. Searching for and connecting to a stronger signal drains power, so if your phone battery is already low on charge, you may have a difficult time getting good service.

Always start by turning Airplane mode on and off

Turning your phone’s connection off and then back on is the quickest and easiest way to try and fix your signal woes. If you’re moving around from one location to another, toggling Airplane mode restarts the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular network modems, which forces them to find the best signal in the area.

Android: Swipe down from the top of your screen — to access the Quick Settings panel — and then tap the Airplane mode icon. Wait for your phone to completely disconnect from its Wi-Fi and cellular connections. It doesn’t happen instantly, so give it a good 15 seconds before you tap on the Airplane mode icon again.

iPhone: On the iPhone, you can access Airplane mode from the Control Center, but that varies depending on which iPhone model you have. On the iPhone X and later, swipe down from the top-right corner to access the Control Center. On older iPhone models, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Then tap the Airplane mode icon, which will turn orange when it’s enabled. Again, wait up to 15 seconds before turning it off.

If airplane mode doesn’t work, restart your phone

Our phones are miniature computers, and just like computers, sometimes you can fix issues like network connection by simply restarting them.

Android: Hold down the power button, or the power button and the volume down key (depending on your Android phone), until the on-screen menu shows up, and then tap Restart. If your phone doesn’t offer a restart option, you can simply tap Power Off to shut down your device, and then boot it back up with the power button.

iPhone: On the iPhone X and older models, hold down the sleep/wake button and either one of the volume buttons and then swipe right on the power slider to turn off the device. Wait until it fully turns off, then press down on the sleep/wake button to turn it back on.

Alternatively, you can do a force reset on your iPhone: Press the volume up button, followed by the volume down button and then press and hold the side button. Keep holding it in, after your phone’s screen goes black and until you see the Apple logo appear again.

If your iPhone has a home button, hold down the sleep/wake button until the power slider is displayed and then drag the slider to the right. Once the device is turned off, press and hold the sleep/wake button until you see the Apple logo.

Take your SIM card out of your phone

Another troubleshooting step that might help is to remove your SIM card, if your phone has one, and then place it back in with the phone turned on. If the SIM card is dirty, clean it. If it has any physical defects, you may need to replace it.

You’ll need a SIM card tool — usually included in your phone’s box — or an unfolded paper clip or sewing needle to get the SIM tray out of your phone.

All phones: Remove the SIM card, check to see if it’s damaged and positioned in the SIM tray correctly, then put it back in your phone.

eSIM: For phones with an eSIM — that is, an embedded electronic SIM in your phone — there’s nothing for you to remove. The best you can do is restart your phone.

Check your carrier settings (and update your software)

Mobile carriers frequently send out carrier settings updates to help improve connectivity for calls, data and messages on their network. Although this feature is available on all iPhone models, it’s not universal on Android, so you might not find carrier settings if you don’t have a supported phone.

iPhone: Carrier updates should just appear, and you can update from the pop-up message that appears. To force your iPhone to check for a carrier settings update, go to Settings > General > About on your phone. If an update is available, you’ll be prompted to install it.

Android: As mentioned before, not all Android phones have carrier settings, so you’ll have to open the Settings app and type in “carrier settings” to find any possible updates. On supported Pixels, go to Settings > Network & internet > Internet, tap the gear next to your carrier name and then tap Carrier settings versions.

Reset your phone’s network settings

Sometimes all you need is a clean slate to fix an annoying connectivity issue. Refreshing your phone’s network settings is one way to do that. But be forewarned, resetting your network settings will also reset any saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN connections and custom APN settings for those on carriers that require additional setup.

Android: In the Settings app, search for “reset” or more specifically “reset network settings” and tap on the setting. On the Pixel, the setting is called Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth. After you reset your network settings, remember to reconnect your phone to your home and work Wi-Fi networks.

iPhone: Go to Settings > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network settings. The next page will warn you that resetting your network settings will reset your settings for Wi-Fi, mobile data and Bluetooth. Tap Reset Network Settings and your phone will restart.

Contact your phone carrier

Sometimes unexpected signal issues can be traced back to problems with your wireless carrier. A cell tower could be down, or the tower’s fiber optic cable could have been cut, causing an outage.

For consistent problems connecting to or staying connected to a cellular or data network, it’s possible your carrier’s coverage doesn’t extend well into your neighborhood.

Other times, a newfound signal issue can be due to a defect with your phone or a SIM card that’s gone bad. Contacting your carrier to begin troubleshooting after you’ve tried these fixes is the next best step to resolving your spotty signal.

If all else fails, try a signal booster to improve cell reception

If after going through all of our troubleshooting steps, including talking to your carrier to go over your options, you’re still struggling to keep a good signal — try a booster. A signal booster receives the same cellular signal your carrier uses, then amplifies it just enough to provide coverage in a room or your entire house.

The big downside here is the cost. Wilson has three different boosters designed for home use, ranging in price from $349 for single room coverage to $999 to cover your entire home. To be clear, we haven’t specifically tested these models. Wilson offers a 30-day money back guarantee and a two-year warranty should you have any trouble with its products.

If you’re looking for iPhone-specific tips and tricks, check out our guide to hidden features on iOS 17. And for Android fans, here’s how you can get Android 14 right now.

Modern laptops are so thin and light that companies like Apple and others have had to resort to stripping back the number of ports that they have. Many models can’t fit previously common ports like Ethernet or HDMI, for example, and you’ll need to make alternative arrangements if you need them. A great USB-C hub is one option, but if you want the most power and connectivity available, you should opt for a Thunderbolt dock. And now you can get a popular model with a massive discount.

The OWC 14-port Thunderbolt Dock would normally sell for around $280, but if you place your order right now you’ll pay just $100 instead. You don’t need to do anything special to get that price, but you do need to remember that we don’t know how long this price is going to last. The website says this is part of a March savings event, so you might have a little while left, but we can’t promise anything.

This 14-port dock has almost everything you’re likely to need. By plugging just a single Thunderbolt cable into your Mac or Windows PC you’ll be able to charge it at up to 85 watts of power while also connecting two 4K or one 5K display.

The full rundown of available ports includes two Thunderbolt 3 ports, five 5Gbps USB-A ports, a 10Gbps USB-C port, a mini DisplayPort, a gigabit Ethernet port and a 3.5mm combo audio port. A single S/PDIF digital audio output port and slots for microSD and SD cards are also offered.

You can only connect a USB-C monitor to this since there are no HDMI ports, so be sure to check out our collection of the best USB-C monitor deals if you’re on the lookout for a new one to go with your new dock.