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Mobile World Congress sees almost all of the world’s biggest tech companies descend on Barcelona every year to show off the latest and greatest in mobile technology. This year will be no different, with many major brands already teasing their launches ahead of the show’s official opening on Monday, Feb. 26.

We will be there in person this year, armed with laptops, cameras and a thirst for the next big thing. Also we’ll have tapas and beer, because Barcelona.

Read more: Top Phones to Expect in 2024: iPhone 16, Google Pixel 9 and More

So what can we actually expect from the show? Let’s pop our safety hats on and dive into the rumor mill.

Phones, lots of phones

It’s a mobile-focused show, so it’s safe to assume that we’ll see new phones from a whole variety of brands. In typical years we’d see launches from the likes of Nokia, TCL, Honor and a host of others and we’d absolutely expect to see new launches this time round. In fact, Honor has already confirmed the launch of its flagship Magic 6 Pro on Feb. 25.

London-based mobile brand Nothing was rumored to be launching its new phone, the Nothing Phone 2A at MWC, but the company confirmed a launch event on March 5, so this technically falls outside of MWC timings. Still, it’s close enough to deserve a mention on this list.

Honor’s Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra

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Mind-bending folding concepts from Motorola

Last year, Motorola treated us to an amazing concept phone that featured a rollable display that automatically extended out of the phone. It was an exciting product to be able to see in the flesh, although the company made no comment on whether it would ever actually go on sale.

Back in October, Motorola teased a different sort of bendable device: a phone that can be worn like a bracelet. While the company hasn’t said anything about launching this concept as a real product, we firmly expect it to be shown off in person at MWC, and we’re excited to potentially get our hands (well, wrists) on it.

OnePlus concepts and Watch 2

Speaking of concepts, OnePlus has a good track record of showing off quirky concept versions of its devices at the show. Last year, we were treated to a liquid-cooled version of its OnePlus 11 flagship. The company hasn’t yet teased any kind of new concept for this year’s show, but we remain hopeful for something unusual to be on display.

We may, however, get an actual product from the company in the form of the OnePlus Watch 2. The company’s first-generation wearable launched back in 2021 and didn’t really impress. We don’t know anything about the watch itself, but some rumors suggest it will be unveiled at the show. Stay tuned, watch fans.

Check Out Apple’s Vision Pro Headset and Everything in the Box

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Smart rings and mixed reality headsets

Samsung teased its upcoming wearable, the Galaxy Ring, during its Galaxy Unpacked event in January but we’ve so far seen very little of it. It’s possible that Samsung may show off more of the ring — or at least let us put one on — during the show. Or it might continue to keep its cards close to its chest.

Either way, big tech announcements like this have a habit of sparking similar ideas from other players and it’s quite likely we’ll see similar wearables at the show from other brands. Whether these take the form of rings, or if we’ll see a sudden influx of smart necklaces or smart nose piercings, remains to be seen.

Read more: Samsung’s Surprise Galaxy Ring: Who’s This Wearable Actually For?

But the same is likely to be true of mixed reality or spatial computing headsets. Apple’s Vision Pro is making big waves in the tech world and even managed to impress our very own Scott Stein, who called it “a mind-blowing look at an unfinished future.” While Apple never attends these shows, it’s highly likely that we’ll see competing devices from brands wanting to get in on the headset computing action.

Xiaomi’s new SU7 electric car

Rumors suggest that Xiaomi will be taking the wraps off its latest Xiaomi 14 and 14 Ultra phones, with the latter featuring titanium in order to keep pace with Apple and Samsung. Exciting stuff, for sure, but the company might have an even bigger product to show off.

Xiaomi has been clear since 2021 about its plans to get into the automotive market and at the end of last year it announced its first EV, the Xiaomi SU7. Xiaomi plans to become one of the top five car manufacturers in the world, so we firmly expect this vehicle to appear in some form as part of the company’s 2024 MWC showcase.

Best Buy has a lot of great weekend sales, but this one’s dedicated almost completely to folks with a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership. You’ll find a lot of discounts in various categories, whether you want an Apple MacBook or a cordless vacuum. It’s also a great opportunity to grab something if you missed out on Presidents Day. And you don’t already have to be a member to take advantage of the sale. You can sign up now and gain exclusive access.

To save you some time, we’ve scoured the sale and gathered the best deals and discounts for My Best Buy members on laptops, tablets, TVs, soundbars and more. Our top picks are highlighted below. Note that many of these products are discounted for nonmembers too, just not by as much. The member-exclusive sale ends Sunday, Feb. 25, at 9:59 p.m. PT, so be sure to get your order in before then if you don’t want to miss out.

More exclusive member deals at Best Buy:

• Hisense 75-inch U6 Series QLED 4K smart Google TV: $650 (save $50)
• Apple 12.9-inch iPad Pro (256GB): $1,150 (save $50)
• Logitech 4K Pro noise-canceling webcam: $127 (save $30)
• Arlo Pro 5S 2K 3 camera indoor/outdoor security bundle: $350 (save $250)
• Samsung Q-Series 3.1ch Dolby Atmos soundbar: $360 (save $120)
• Level Lock Plus Connect smart lock kit: $379 (save $50)
• Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16-inch touchscreen laptop (512GB): $650 (save $350)
• TCL 65-inch Q6 Series 4K QLED smart Google TV: $450 (save $150)
• Apple Magic Keyboard with numeric keypad: $108 (save $22)
• HP Envy 2-in-1 15-inch touchscreen laptop (512GB): $650 (save $500)
• Shokz OpenFit open-ear wireless earbuds: $150 (save $30)
• Apple MacBook Pro (M2): $1,000 (save $500)

• Dyson V11 Extra cordless vacuum: $450 (save $200)

• LG 65-inch 99 Series 8K QNED smart TV: $1,300 (save $200)
• Compustar 2-way CSX remote start system (LTE): $299 (save $351)
• Dyson Airstrait hair straightener tool: $400 (save $100)
• Kamado Joe Big Joe 2 standalone charcoal grill: $1,699 (save $100)
• LG 77-inch C3 Series OLED 4K TV: $2,200 (save $500)

• Wallbox Cable Pulsar Plus J1772 Level 2 Nema 14-50 EV charger up to 40A: $449 (save $200)

On Thursday morning, AT&T users in many of the most populous cities in the US woke up to no network service on their phones. The major outage appears to have lasted more than 12 hours, leaving many people without one of their most critical lines of access to the modern world.

The carrier quickly apologized to customers.

“Keeping our customers connected remains our top priority, and we are taking steps to ensure our customers do not experience this again in the future,” the company said in a statement.

AT&T also assured people that the outage was not the result of a cyberattack, and in fact blamed “the application and execution of an incorrect process used as we were expanding our network.”

For many customers, the outage was also a reminder of the perils of relying only on mobile phones, and it may have made some people rethink the place of a home device that used to be standard issue but is now nearly obsolete: the landline telephone.

Remember the landline?

Landlines are telephones that connect to specialized wiring in our homes. The iconic image is that of a rotary-dial phone — usually rented from the phone company — that either hung on the wall or sat on a counter or table, though push-button and later cordless landlines replaced many of those oldsters in the 1980s. Landline phones connect to one another through a global communication network that was built over more than a century. But as cellphones became broadly available and affordable, many people chose to drop their landlines altogether.

A 2022 survey by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that only about 29% of US adults lived in a house with a landline phone, down from more than 90% in 2004. The crossover happened around 2015, which was also when smartphone sales entered a boom period that reshaped the tech industry and helped turn iPhone maker Apple into one of the world’s most highly valued companies.

Ann Williams is one of the folks who haven’t given up on their landlines yet. When asked why she keeps hers around, she describes moving to Huntsville, Alabama, after a tornado outbreak on April 27, 2011, when dozens of twisters killed at least 250 people and knocked out power for days. Although she moved there after the tornadoes, hearing about the event brought home to her the importance of always needing a phone connection.

“The weather here is so unpredictable,” she told me in an interview. But landlines have dedicated power, and often work even in an outage. “We remember a day when it was absolutely necessary to have (the landline),” Williams said.

What makes landlines more reliable?

Landline phones operate on a separate infrastructure, built from copper phone lines that are inexpensive to build and rather reliable. They also don’t have the drawbacks of cellular networks, like dropped calls, poor and distorted quality or weak reception.

A key reason people keep landlines around is that they tend to work even during power outages, which is a big plus for folks whose work involves emergency services, business or health care.

Analog fax machines are also built around landline phone systems, which means most hospitals and doctor’s offices, as well as policy and law offices, need to keep a landline connection running.

Landline downsides

The US Federal Communications Commission is phasing out requirements for phone companies to provide landline services (called Plain Old Telephone Service, or POTS) across the country. As a result, more homes and business offices are being built with ethernet jacks rather than phone jacks.

Landline phone connections aren’t cheap, either. CNET corporate cousin AllConnect notes that AT&T’s traditional home phone plan starts at $48 per month, and you have to use the company for internet too. CenturyLink is cheaper, starting at $30 per month, and Spectrum will charge as little as $20 per month.

And not all landlines use copper phone lines. Increasingly, companies are piggybacking their phone systems on their internet connections, a service called Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP. AllConnect currently tracks only three service providers offering old-style landlines: CenturyLink, Comcast Xfinity, and Cox.

How to get a landline

If you’re ready to get set up with a landline, call the local phone company and ask about phone services. If you live in an apartment building, it’s important for you to find out where the phone junction box is. Typically, the landlord should know, and if not, the local phone company should be able to find it.

Here are some follow-up questions you want to ask, and what to look for in the answers:

• Are the landlines VoIP or are they POTS? Ideally, if you’re looking for security and reliability, POTS is what you want. VoIP can work, but understand that it likely relies on your internet modem and connection to work.
• If VoIP, does the company have backup power systems to ensure the voice line works in a power outage? Most companies do sell backup batteries you can buy directly from them. You can use an uninterrupted power supply, perhaps from CyberPower or APC. Do note that these are different from portable power supplies. Portable power supplies do allow you to stay electronically powered on the go, but those aren’t meant to continuously monitor for power outages and then kick in as needed.
• Typically, local calls are free but dialing out of your area code costs. What’s the rate structure? Companies like AT&T have various extra fees they charge for nationwide calls, as well as for international long distance. Long-distance calls in particular are usually charged per minute, and the companies don’t always publish that information on their website. Make sure you know what it’ll cost, and if it’s too much, consider using a chat app like Signal, WhatsApp, Google Meet or Apple FaceTime for your long-distance calls instead.

What to do with a landline

If you have a landline but leave it languishing, just sucking money out of your bank account each month, you aren’t alone. But there are some ways to make it more useful.

Google Voice is a popular option, giving you a new phone number that acts as a sort of hub. Whenever people call, Google Voice then calls every phone to which you have it connected, be it a home landline, a cellphone, a work phone or anything else.

There are other such services too, including Zoom and RingCentral, if you don’t like working with Google.

A landline phone can also connect with home security systems and medical alert sensors to help ensure that if you’re in an emergency, help will be there as soon as possible.

If you can’t get a landline

If you’re ineligible for a landline, or don’t like the service being offered, you do have more options from satellite providers. Companies such as HughesNet and SpaceX can support VoIP over their internet connections.

Phone makers like Apple are also slowly building satellite messaging into their devices. The iPhone 14, which debuted in 2022, has a feature called Emergency SOS, which can connect with a satellite to send location data to your friends or an emergency text to authorities.

Wendy Williams ran her syndicated talk show, The Wendy Williams Show, for 13 years before it aired its last episode in summer 2022. Citing health issues, she stepped back from the show, and its final season wrapped up with guest hosts filling in for her. Williams has largely stayed out of the limelight since then, but viewers will see her return in an all-new documentary: Where Is Wendy Williams?

Made in partnership with Lifetime TV, the two-part series chronicles Williams’ life after the show, including her health journey, financial conservatorship and career aspirations. It was filmed over two years with the talk show maven and her family on camera, capturing private moments and more. According to the network’s press release, the doc “provides a raw, honest and unfiltered reality of Wendy’s life after she was placed under financial guardianship, shedding light on the vulnerabilities that has turned Wendy into the Hot Topic herself.”

In addition to catching up on Williams’ life, viewers will also be directed to related resources on mental health, Graves’ disease and more. Here’s how to tune in to the docuseries if you don’t have cable or a satellite provider.

Read more: Best Streaming Service of 2024

Watch Lifetime TV on a live TV streaming service

Lifetime is the exclusive home of Where Is Wendy Williams? The network will air the series over two days. It premieres Saturday, Feb. 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

The best way to watch the documentary is via a live TV streaming service. Several platforms carry the network in their channel lineups, and Philo and Sling are among the most popular and least expensive options that offer access to Lifetime’s newest releases, which you can watch live or on-demand. New subscribers can take advantage of free trial offers for these services, and each allows you to cancel anytime. Learn more about these platforms with our live TV streaming best list.

However, we advise you to choose one that’s best for your budget and content preferences. To learn more about live TV streaming offerings, read our channel comparison and this matchup between YouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV.

How to watch Lifetime from anywhere with a VPN

Perhaps you’re traveling abroad and want to stream Lifetime while away from home. With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the documentary from anywhere in the world. There are other good reasons to use a VPN for streaming too.

A VPN is the best way to encrypt your traffic and stop your ISP from throttling your speeds. Using a VPN is also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network and want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins. Streaming TV can be a bit smoother with a reliable, quality VPN that’s passed our tests and security standards.

You can use a VPN to legally stream content as long as VPNs are allowed in your country and you have a valid subscription to the streaming service you’re using. The US and Canada are among the countries where VPNs are legal, but we advise against streaming or downloading content on illegal torrent sites. We recommend ExpressVPN, but you may opt for another provider from our best list, such as Surfshark or NordVPN.

Follow the VPN provider’s instructions for installation and choose a country where Where Is Wendy Williams? will be streaming on a service like Philo. Before opening the streaming app, be sure you’re connected to your VPN using your selected region. If you want to stream the series on multiple devices, you may need to configure each to ensure you’re signed in. Go to settings and check your network connections to verify you’re logged in and connected to your VPN account.

If you run into streaming issues, first ensure your VPN is up and running on its encrypted IP address. Double-check that you’ve followed installation instructions correctly and you’ve picked the right geographical area for viewing. If you still encounter connection problems, you may need to reboot your device. Close all apps and windows, restart your device, and connect to your VPN first. Note that some streaming services have restrictions on VPN access.

Manchester City face a potentially tricky challenge in their title defense on Saturday as they head to the Vitality Stadium to face midtable Bournemouth in the English Premier League.

On the face of it, you’d think the world’s richest club should stroll this game, but the Cherries have lost just four of their last 15 games and boast the EPL’s top English goalscorer, Dominic Solanke.

City come into this clash 4 points behind league leaders Liverpool, with this game in hand. They have an impressive record to uphold, having never lost to their opponents on Saturday in any of their past 20 meetings. The Sky Blues have chalked up 18 wins and two draws in those previous encounters.

Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game live wherever you are in the world.

Bournemouth vs. Manchester City: When and where?

Bournemouth host Manchester Cityat the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 24. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. GMT (12:30 p.m. ET, 9:30 a.m. PT in the US and Canada; and 4:30 a.m. AEDT on Sunday, Feb. 25, in Australia).

How to watch the Bournemouth vs. Man City game online from anywhere using a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view the game locally, you may need a different way to watch the game — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, non-blackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

Livestream Bournemouth vs. Man City in the US

Saturday’s Bournemouth vs. Man City match is streaming on Peacock. You’ll need a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus account to catch the game live.

Livestream the Bournemouth vs. Man City game in the UK

Premier League rights in the UK are split between Sky Sports, Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports (previously known as BT Sport). Bournemouth vs. Man City is exclusive to Sky Sports, showing on its Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League and Ultra channels. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the game via its Sky Go app, but cord-cutters will want to get set up with a Now account and a Now Sports membership to stream the game.

Livestream the Bournemouth vs. Man City game in Canada

If you want to stream Bournemouth vs. Man City live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to Fubo. The service has exclusive rights for this Premier League season.

Livestream the Bournemouth vs. Man City game in Australia

Football fans Down Under can watch this EPL fixture on streaming service Optus Sport, which is showing every single Premier League game live in Australia this season.

Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming EPL matches may vary.
• If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
• If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
• And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.

Formula 1 is revving up for the inaugural race of the 2024 season. And, while the season has yet to officially start, the drama is already ramping up. There have been driver lineup switches, most notablyMercedes’ Lewis Hamilton making the jump to Ferrari for 2025, after what will be an 11-year tenure on the team.

Last season, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen ran away with the Constructors’ and Drivers’ championships, with Red Bull winning by a massive margin of 451 points and Verstappen winning by a margin of 290 points. It’s safe to assume that Red Bull will be eyeing a return to the top of the podium this season.

Fans of the sport will be watching out for something called the “Bahrain Curse,” simply the idea that whichever team wins the first race of the season will be destined to come in second place in the Constructors’ championship. (Granted, Red Bull proved this wrong in 2023.) After teams debuted their cars on track for the first time last weekend, this weekend’s race will be the first true test of each team’s 2024 model.

The Bahrain Grand Prix follows the traditional race weekend format, with three practice sessions across Thursday and Friday, a Friday qualifier and Saturday race. It’s important to note that both the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix will take place on Saturday, not the usual Sunday, in deference to the holy month of Ramadan.

The main race, which takes place on Saturday, March 2 at 9:55 a.m ET (6:55 a.m PT) will be held at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. The race will air on ESPN.

The entire race weekend, including practice sessions and qualifying, will be shown in the US on ESPN’s family of TV and streaming networks. Those looking to follow all of it will need access to the ABC and ESPN news channels on cable or live TV streaming services, or the ESPN Plus streaming service. We’ve broken down everything you need to know to stream today’s race, and all the other F1 races this season.

When, where and what time are the races?

Races are held on Sunday and are usually spaced two weeks apart. Here’s the entire schedule.

Best option for streaming in the US

How to watch F1 online from anywhere using a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view the race locally, you may need a different way to watch — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on race day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

Livestream F1 racing in the UK

F1 in the UK is shown on Sky Sports and Channel 4 — Sky Sports airs the races, practice rounds and qualifying, while free-to-air Channel 4 offers highlights broadcast after the day’s action takes place. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the race via its app, but cord-cutters can watch Sky TV with unlimited Sky Sports on a Now TV membership.

Other options for streaming in the US without cable

Beyond ESPN Plus, numerous live TV streaming services carry channels with F1. Race weekends normally start on Friday with multiple practice runs and continue on Saturday with qualifying. The races themselves take place Sunday. ESPN typically airs practices and qualifying on a mix of ESPN 2 and ESPNews, while the races tend to air on ESPN. F1 events in North America often land on ABC.

Here are some of the best ways to catch the entire race weekend without cable.

Tinder is changing its verification process. To receive the blue checkmark on your profile, you’ll need to upload a picture of any government-issued photo ID, such as your driver’s license or passport, in addition to a video of yourself, the dating app giant announced Tuesday.

Verification is an important online dating feature that lets you know that a match is who they say they are. Tinder introduced photo verification in 2020, and currently all you need for verification is a video of your face. Tinder hopes the expanded verification process will give users more peace of mind while swiping. There are some factors you should consider before participating.

Here’s what you need to know about Tinder’s new enhanced verification process.

Read More: How to Stay Safe While Swiping Right

What is Tinder’s new verification process?

The new enhanced verification process will prompt you to submit a video selfie and a photo of a form of government-issued ID, like your driver’s license or passport. Currently, all you need for verification is a video of your face, which Tinder calls a video selfie.

With the new ID verification option, Tinder will match your photo on the ID to the pictures on your profile. It will also look at the birthday on your ID to verify you’re at least 18 years old, per Tinder policy, and that your listed age is accurate. Tinder uses facial recognition software on your video selfie for a similar purpose: to confirm that you’re human and the person in your profile photos.

If you want to verify your account but don’t want to upload your ID, you can still upload a video selfie for verification. Instead of getting a checkmark, Tinder will give you a new, blue camera icon. If you only upload your ID, you’ll get an ID verification badge on your profile. The only way to get a checkmark will be to submit a video and ID. You can also opt out of verification altogether.

How to update your Tinder profile verification

A spokesperson from Match Group, Tinder’s parent company, said to CNET via email that they didn’t have an exact date for when the US rollout would begin, but it would be soon. Tinder expects to fully roll out its revamped profile verification for US users by summer. Users in Brazil and the UK might get it sooner — by spring, according to the press release.

For now, you can still submit for verification using a video of your face. Go to your Profile, tap the gray/grayed-out checkmark next to your name, tap Get Verified, tap Continue and follow the prompts to take your video.

Tinder’s data privacy policies for ID verification

The Match Group spokesperson also confirmed via email that Tinder will only keep a redacted image of your ID on file for 30 days after using it to verify your age and liveness (AKA that you’re human, not using something like AI-generated photos). They noted that Tinder retains the data collected in the ID verification process, not its third-party vendor providing the identity verification technology.

Tinder will also delete your video selfie after 30 days, but it will keep two screenshots from it on file indefinitely for auditing purposes, the policy states. It also says that Tinder does not “store or extract” other data from your ID, like your address or ID number. You can request Tinder delete the screenshots by writing to the community team, but closing your account is the only way to delete the rest of your information.

Should you upload your photo ID to a dating app?

Uploading your government-issued IDs online isn’t typically recommended, as cybercriminals can hack cloud databases and potentially steal your identity, according to security company Aura. There are instances when it’s necessary for banks, government agencies, employers, insurers, etcetera. Dating apps are a different ball game. It’s always best to evaluate the risk when sharing your personal information when it’s not absolutely necessary.

Uploading your ID on dating apps has pros and cons. On the one hand, when users take advantage of verification tools, it makes it easier for others on the app to spot fake accounts, scammers and bad actors. It can help give you some peace of mind while swiping — you know the person you’re messaging is who their profile says they are — which is part of Tinder’s argument with these changes.

On the other hand, digital privacy advocates have cautioned against sharing this kind of personal information to sites and platforms that might be unable to keep it safe. Dating apps are already targets for cybercriminals because they store massive amounts of personal information. While companies can do their best, it’s never a guarantee that the information you share won’t be compromised.

Other apps like Bumble and Match Group’s Hinge and OKCupid only require selfies and video uploads, not proof of government-issued photo IDs. With the new Tinder update, you can verify your identity without needing to share your IDs — you’ll just get a camera icon instead of a checkmark.

Why should I verify my dating app profile?

For many dating apps, verification of any kind is optional. One reason people choose to opt in — and why the apps urge users to do so — is because it’s a way to signal to other users on the platform that they’re real, authentic people. The hope is that this makes it easier to spot potential bad actors and scammers.

Match Group also thinks it can lead to better romantic luck. In a pilot program for the new verification process in Australia and New Zealand, Tinder reports that verified users with a blue checkmark saw a 67% increase in matches compared to unverified users. At Tinder’s sister site, Hinge, Selfie Verified users go on more than 200% more dates globally, according to a press release from Match Group.

Checking for profile verification badges of any kind is one of many ways you can keep yourself safe on dating apps. This is especially helpful for spotting potential scammers who won’t want to upload or show you a photo of their face. According to the most recent Federal Trade Commission data, romance scams cost consumers $1.3 billion in 2022. Profile verification is just one way you can protect yourself from online romance scams, along with maintaining a healthy cybersecurity routine, never sending money to someone you meet online and being wary of “too good to be true” financial schemes.

Other online dating safety tips that CNET recommends include limiting what you share on your profile, keeping your conversations on the app and looping your friends into your plans when you meet an online date in real life.

For the last few years, we’ve repeatedly praised the Anker Nebula Mars II Pro as one of the best portable projectors. In the same breath, we also explained that this was despite some issues: The streaming interface wasn’t great, its color was a bit off and it wasn’t particularly bright (although similar to its competition). We were let down when the Mars 3 appeared and it was a radically different projector.

Turns out Anker forked the Mars line and the true replacement to the II Pro is the 3 Air. It has the same overall design, a higher resolution and uses Google TV for its streaming interface; all potentially solid improvements. The battery life is down a little, as are the claimed lumens. How much of an upgrade it was remained to be seen (pun intended).

After running it through our normal testing, the Mars 3 Air is a pretty solid upgrade overall. The image is improved and the streaming interface is significantly better. The only major downgrade is the price, which is a full 20% more than its predecessor. If you’re looking for a portable projector this is likely the best all-around option.

Some specs and such

• Native resolution: 1080p
• HDR-compatible: No
• 4K-compatible: No
• 3D-compatible: No
• Lumens spec: 400
• Zoom: No
• Lens shift: No
• Lamp life: LED, so the life of the projector

One of the biggest changes between the Mars 3 Air and its predecessor, the Mars II Pro, is the increase in resolution to 1080p from 720p. More pixels is pretty much always a good thing with projectors since said pixels are going to be huge.

Anker lists the 3 Air as having 400 ANSI lumens. In the most accurate mode, I measured approximately 252 lumens. In the less accurate, and visibly green, Bright mode, I got 354 lumens. Given the variances and errors in any measurement method, I’d say that’s pretty close. It’s also fairly average for portable projectors, although far lower than traditional, battery-free home theater projectors — even at around the same price. For instance, the brightest projector we’ve ever tested was just $30 more than the 3 Air but 8x brighter (although in all fairness, the Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-FH02 had other shortcomings).

As is typical with portable projectors, there’s no lens shift or zoom. If you want a bigger or smaller image, you just need to move the projector farther or closer to the screen. There is electronic focus which activates automatically, or you can activate it from the remote. You can adjust focus in the menu as well. There’s also automatic keystone correction, but I recommend you turn that off and just do your best to line up the projector perpendicular to the screen or wall.

Battery life is a claimed 2.5 hours, 1 hour less than the Mars II Pro. This is in the Eco brightness mode, which is roughly 30% as bright as the normal mode (approximately 97 lumens in the accurate mode). There’s no rating for the lamp life, but it’s LEDs so I’d expect them to last the lifetime of the projector.

Inputs and streaming

• HDMI inputs: 1
• USB port: 1
• Audio output: Headphone output
• Internet: 2.4/5GHz
• Remote: Not backlit

A single HDMI lets you connect an external source like a game console or additional streaming media device. If said device is small enough, you can power it from the USB connection. The internal speakers are decent and you can use the 3 Air as a Bluetooth speaker. If you want to connect something else like headphones, there’s an analog output for that as well.

The streaming interface is standard Google TV, which is a good thing. Older, and many cheaper, portable projectors have either a version of Android or an abnormal streaming setup. If you allow Google to do so, they’ll do a rather frighteningly accurate job of showing you content you’re interested in across multiple streaming services. The only downside to the Google TV interface is it hides and scatters fairly standard projector adjustments across multiple menus. It can be a bit of a hassle to set up. Worse, there’s a minimum of adjustments to be had in general. So even basic picture adjustments like “brightness” aren’t available. Fortunately, I found it was already set up fairly well from the factory, though more adjustments would likely improve the image a little.

Picture quality comparisons

Anker Mars II Pro

Xgimi Halo Plus

Logically I compared the Mars 3 Air to its predecessor, the Mars II Pro. I also compared it to the Xgimi Halo Plus, which is roughly the same size, and has similar specs, but is a little more expensive. I connected them to a Monoprice 1×4 distribution amplifier and viewed them side-by-side on a 102-inch 1.0-gain screen.

First up, Anker vs Anker. The raw numbers imply these should look fairly similar. I measured approximately 337 lumens on the II Pro with a contrast ratio of 354:1. The 3 Air was a little dimmer at 252 with a slightly higher contrast ratio at 405:1. The 3 Air did look a little dimmer, but the contrast ratio seemed higher than that small difference implied. This is likely due to the 3 Air’s ability to adjust the gamma and perhaps better overall image tuning. Neither projector has a full suite of image adjustments. The color temperature was far more accurate and natural on the 3 Air, far warmer than the cool-toned II Pro. Color was a bit of a mixed bag overall, neither was particularly accurate and an argument could be made for “differently bad,” but overall I preferred the look of the 3 Air.

The additional resolution of the newer model is probably the biggest difference. While I always point out that resolution is just one aspect of an image, and not a particularly important one, stepping up from 720p to 1080p for a projector is a sizeable jump. From a normal viewing distance, keen-eyed viewers will be able to see the pixels of a 100-inch 720p image. With 1080p you’d need to be sitting closer or have to create an image that’s much larger.

Next up: the Xgimi Halo Plus. Specs-wise, the Mars 3 Air and the Halo Plus are very similar. Xgimi claimed its projector capable of 900 lumens, but that proved to be a particular gift for fiction. I measured 284, which is basically what the 3 Air produces. Contrast too was basically the same, at 368:1. Unlike the Mars 2 Pro pairing, these two projectors looked more similar visually, with a slight edge to the 3 Air. The most notable difference was the Xgimi’s slight pink tint, making the 3 Air look more natural overall.

Even if they were the same price, the Mars 3 Air looks fractionally better than the Xgimi. They don’t cost the same, with the Halo Plus costing an additional $150, or about 20%, as of this writing. That is to say, the Mars 3 Air wins this comparison, even if it doesn’t do so with a massive performance improvement.

Portable for a price

Despite a loss of a few lumens, the Mars 3 Air is a solid upgrade over the Mars II Pro. It’s easier to use, and it looks a little better while keeping the great size of its predecessor. My only issue is that it’s creeping up in price. $600 is encroaching on the prices of some actual home theater projectors which all vastly outperform the 3 Air.

If you don’t need a battery, those are better options. If binging some shows or watching a movie nowhere near an outlet is your thing, the Mars 3 Air is the best option overall. Is it worth the $100 premium over the II Pro? Yes, but barely.

As well as covering audio and display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000-mile road trips and more.

He wrote a bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines, and also Budget Travel for Dummies. You can follow him on Instagram and YouTube.

Much like the zombies that inhabit the franchise, The Walking Dead series refuses to die. Its latest spinoff show, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, is hitting screens with another helping of apocalyptic undead drama.

This latest installment of the hugely popular franchise sees the return of two of its most-loved characters, with the reunion of Rick and Michonne Grimes following their dramatic separation in season 9 of TWD.

Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira both make their long-awaited returns to the lead roles in what had originally been envisioned as a big-screen movie but instead has materialized as a six-episode TV series.

Rick had been presumed dead following his exit from the show, but this new spinoff is set to explain what the former sheriff’s deputy has been up to, while also seeing him hitch back up with Michonne. With the pair thrust into a different environment, the couple will deal with more than just walkers as threats. The show will also answer the question as to whether the reunited pair return as lovers, friends, zombie-slaying partners or enemies.

How to watch ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’ from anywhere using a VPN

If you can’t watch The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live in your region, a VPN can come in handy. With a VPN, you can virtually change the location of your phone, tablet or laptop to a US server and gain access to Sling Freestream from anywhere in the world. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

Watch ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’ in the US

Viewers in the US and Canada can watch The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live on the AMC cable channel or the AMC Plus streaming app, which is also available via Apple TV, Prime Video, DirecTV and more.

The series will premiere on the AMC cable network in the US and Canada on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 6 p.m. PT (9 p.m. ET), but if you have the AMC Plus app, you can access new episodes a little earlier, from 12 a.m. PT (3 a.m. ET) every Sunday morning.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is an AMC original that’s available via most cable providers as well as several cord-cutter-friendly streaming services, including Sling Orange and Sling Blue. Prices start from $40 a month for either service.

More ways to watch AMC Plus:

• Apple TV Channels
• Amazon Prime Video Channels
• The Roku Channel
• Comcast Xfinity
• Dish
• DirecTV
• YouTube TV

Can I watch ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’ in the UK?

It’s not great news for UK fans of the franchise, with no confirmed broadcaster so far announced for the region. If you’re a US or Canadian resident traveling in the U.K., a VPN will let you stream AMC Plus like you would back home.

Watch ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’ in Australia

For those Down Under, streaming platform Stan is where it’s at for zombie apocalypse action. The opening episode of the show is set to be available on the service from Monday, Feb. 26, with new installments hitting Stan every Monday from then on.

Quick tips for streaming ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’ using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming episodes may vary.
• If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
• If you’re having trouble watching after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log in to your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
• And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite the fact that you’re using a VPN, so be sure you choose a privacy-first browser to log in to your services. We normally recommend Brave.