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TV makers premiered a range of wild innovations at CES 2024, from LG’s transparent TV to Samsung’s ultra-premium 98-inch 8K TV. Also of note were the display behemoths: Hisense announced an ultra-bright 110-inch TV, and TCL dropped an even bigger 115-inch TV.

This tech is all marvel-worthy and certainly something to keep your eye on in the future, but they won’t be found in many peoples’ living rooms this year. That’s because they’ll all be wicked expensive. Here, instead, are our most anticipated, practical and (relatively) affordable 2024 TVs you may consider buying this year.

How did these TVs make the list? Most of them are successors to TVs we’ve reviewed and liked in the past. They stood out at CES because they strike what seems like a great balance between quality and expected price. To be clear, however, none of the TV makers on this list have announced official pricing yet, so our expectations are based on the prices of the 2023 models.

What about Sony’s 2024 TVs?

Sony didn’t announce any TVs at CES 2024, so we can’t cite any specific examples on this list. The company did demo a prototype of improved mini-LED screen technology that CNET’s David Katzmaier got the chance to check out in person, however. It looked great and delivered improved brightness, local dimming zone count and more precise control of the image according to Sony. It will also likely be very expensive when it becomes available. Last year Sony announced its new TVs in spring, so we expect to hear more soon.

Why should you consider waiting to buy a 2024 TV?

This year’s TVs will hit shelves throughout the spring and summer, doing so at their highest sticker price. Those prices will then fall in the fall (consider that a fun mnemonic for the TV buying cycle) before hitting an all-time low around Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

If you’re looking for a steeper discount for extremely similar quality now, check out the 2023 lineup of TVs. Most of these TVs don’t differ greatly from their newer versions, so you’ll get a similar product at a lower price (until they sell out). For this reason, for the most part, we will continue recommending 2023 models over 2024 until they’re gone.

Read more: Your TV Buying Guide: Winter 2024 Edition

Signal on Tuesday announced that username support is rolling out, and if you want it to, it can supplant the need to give out your phone number to new contacts.

The chat app is launching username support in beta first, and when it rolls out widely it will hide your phone number from other people in the Signal app by default unless they already have it stored in their phone’s contacts.

The change to usernames will mean that you can also choose to make it impossible for others to find you on Signal by phone number, which will be an optional setting. If you choose to use that setting, then other people will only be able to contact you on Signal if they have your exact username.

In the announcement, Signal notes that usernames will not fully replace phone numbers in regard to how you set up your account, but it will function as an alternative to giving out that information when starting conversations with others.

Signal will also provide a QR code option — similar to other apps like WhatsApp — which will direct other people to your username.

Usernames will need to be unique and have two numbers appended to the end of them, which Signal states was done in order to help keep usernames “egalitarian and to minimize spoofing.” A username can also be changed as often as one likes, and deleted if you don’t want to use it anymore.

Ideally, the change will provide a lot more flexibility in how Signal can be used, while preserving privacy. Under the current system where Signal needs a phone number for setup, several of my colleagues have set up a Signal account using an entirely separate phone number that’s dedicated to contacting sources.

This username system — especially the ability to change the username at any time — might allow for preserving that privacy without having to give access to a phone number that’s set up across multiple services.

This username system is expected to roll out widely to Signal users over the next few weeks.

Presidents Day may be behind us but there are plenty of deals still to be had. Apple’s popular AirTag item trackers dropped by $20 ahead of the holiday weekend and that deal is still available right now at Amazon. AirTags typically sell for $29 apiece, or $99 for four, but you can currently snag a four-pack for just $79. There’s no telling when this deal will sell out or expire, so we’d recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

Losing your most important items is incredibly stressful, especially when you’re in a hurry. But finding and keeping track of your keys, wallet and other essentials can be as simple as investing in some Apple AirTags. They’re among the top-rated Bluetooth trackers you can get, and Apple’s Find My network will quickly help you locate anything you’ve tagged.

Apple’s AirTag trackers work seamlessly with your iPhone and the Find My app, with a super simple one-tap pairing process. You can then throw a tracker into a pocket as it is, or grab an AirTag accessory to clip them to keys, hook them onto a bag, stick them to your bike or attach them to anything else you want to keep tabs on.

Once set up, the AirTags will show up in the Find My app and display your items on a map so you can easily find them. If an item is in your vicinity, you can use the app to play a sound on the AirTag’s tiny speaker to help you find it and use the Precision Finding feature to be guided to your lost possession. This is handy if you’re just looking for your keys or wallet around the house, for example. If you lose an item farther afield, you can put it in Lost Mode, which will then ping you if the AirTag is detected on the Find My network and allow you to add a message and include your phone number or email address.

Read more: Have Apple AirTags? 5 Unexpected Places to Put Them

Each AirTag is powered by a CR2032 coin battery, four of which are included with your purchase. The batteries last around a year before you need to replace them. AirTags are IP67 water- and dust-resistant too, so you don’t have to worry about them getting damaged if exposed to the elements.

For more savings on top-rated Apple products, check out our roundups of Apple Watch deals, MacBook deals and iPhone deals currently available.

Bose has long been one of the biggest players in the world of noise-canceling headphone, and its QuietComfort 45 headphones are generally accepted to be among the best you’re likely to find. Buying top-quality hardware normally means spending a lot of money, but you can pick up a pair of Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones for just $199 at Best Buy right now.

There are no codes or coupons required here, but it’s important to pay attention wen clicking through the options at Best Buy. The $199 price is available in the triple black and white smoke colors. These are the two options for the 2021 QuietComfort 45 headphones with all of the other colors being for the newer 2023 version which cost an extra $50.

Despite being an older model, the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones have plenty of features to get excited about, including over 20 hours of battery life from a single charge. You can top that battery life up with a single 15-minute charge to get an extra three hours of listening time, too. The headphones are noted for their active noise cancellation, and you also get a volume-optimized active EQ to ensure everything sounds as good as possible, no matter the volume.

It’s worth remembering that the QuietComfort 45 headphones were replaced in the Bose lineup by the more simply named QuietComfort headphones in 2023, though the upgrades weren’t much to write home about with essentially the same design, marginally improved battery life, and some small software improvements, plus a $50 price hike. With the QuietComfort 45s available this low, it’s well worth going for the previous-gen model.

While we’re huge fans of the QuietComfort 45 headphones, we do know that they won’t be for everyone. Be sure to check out our collection of the best headphone deals around before you shop elsewhere.

If you want to update your entertainment setup without having to buy a brand new TV, streaming devices are the way to go. These nifty devices have made it easy to keep the screen you already have and still get access to all your favorite streaming services. While the Fire TV Stick 4K Max earned the top spot on our list of best Fire TV Stick options, the Fire TV Stick 4K came in a close second and is the closest alternative you can get. It doesn’t deliver speeds quite as fast as the Max, nor does it have Wi-Fi 6, but otherwise it’s a solid choice for those looking for 4K streaming options.

Right now, Woot has slashed the price on Fire TV Stick 4K media streamers in new condition to just $23 — that’s a $27 discount on its list price. This deal is only available today, Feb. 20, while supplies last — so be quick if you want to snag one at this price.

Though this is an older model, the Fire TV Stick 4K on offer at Woot is still feature-packed. It comes with an Alexa voice remote so finding the content you want to watch is fast and simple — and the TV controls make it easy to adjust the volume as well. And you can also use compatible devices like the Echo or Dot for even greater convenience, giving you the ability to launch apps, control video playback and more, completely hands-free. It also supports Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10 Plus and Dolby Atmos, providing you with everything you need for solid picture and sound quality at home. It boasts an impressive game selection as well.

Note that you will need a 4K TV in order to stream in 4K, but this streamer does work with non-4K TVs, too (though it will only stream at the highest possible resolution your screen offers). At this price, this deal is hard to pass up.

And if you do choose to spring for a new TV, we have plenty of 4K TV deals to help you save some money, including deals on budget TVs.

Read more: Best 4K TV for 2024

The never-ending email chain. Somebody accidentally tapped “reply all,” giving everyone the unspoken permission to do the same. Now, your notifications are going off constantly, interrupting meetings and work. You can’t find anything you need because your inbox is full. We’ve all been there, and it’s frustrating.

Thankfully, you can take back control. Microsoft Outlook and Gmail both have tools for you to silence notifications on a specific thread and move it out of your inbox. If you later decide you need a muted thread, it’s easy to find and unmute.

Unclog your inbox and restore your digital peace with these mute settings in Outlook and Gmail.

How to mute Outlook email threads

1. Open Outlook
2. Find the thread you want to mute
3. Right-click to open a side menu
4. Click Ignore Conversation.

Ignore Conversation is Microsoft’s version of mute. With this function, all emails in the chosen thread will be moved to your Deleted folder, and you won’t be notified about new emails in the chain. If you sent a message in the thread, that will stay in your inbox.

To unmute, all you have to do is right-click on the thread again and click Stop Ignoring. You’ll get notified about all the messages that you muted — as well as future ones — and it will also move the thread back into your inbox.

How to mute Gmail threads

1. Open Gmail
2. Find the thread you want to mute
3. On desktop, select Mute. On mobile, tap the three dots in the upper right corner and choose Mute from the popup menu.

Muting email threads will stop notifications for future messages and remove the thread from your main inbox. But if you’re part of a Google Group that’s on the recipient list, or your email address is moved to “to” or cc’ed, you’ll be pulled back into the chain.

To unmute, type “is:muted” in the search bar to pull up all your muted messages. Open the message you want to unmute, tap the three dots in the upper menu and select Unmute.

Muting a Gmail thread is different than snoozing it. Gmail’s Snooze function lets you delay and choose a specific time and date for when you want to be reminded about a message. It won’t remove the thread from your inbox or silence future messages.

For more inbox optimization and less annoyance, check out CNET’s top tips for Gmail and Outlook.

There are just a handful of hours left to shop Best Buy’s massive blowout sale for Presidents Day. The holiday has brought with it tons of deep discounts across the board on many popular items. You’ll find bargains on tablets, laptops, kitchen stuff, TVs, washing machines and a whole lot more. It’s the perfect time to grab yourself something if you missed your chance during the past few big sales, such as those tied to Black Friday and the new year. But act soon, because time is running out to scoop up the savings.

To save you some time, we’ve gone through and highlighted some of the best offers on popular items. Keep in mind that the sale ends tonight, Monday, Feb. 19, at 9:59 p.m. PT, so be sure not to wait too long if you don’t want to miss out. You can also check out CNET’s roundup of other Presidents Day sales for more bargains.

More Presidents Day deals at Best Buy:

• Xbox Series X console: $450 (save $50)
• Up to $200 off unlocked Google Pixel phones
• HP Envy 2-in-1 touchscreen laptop (512GB): $450 (save $400)
• LG 65-inch C3 Series OLED 4K smart TV: $1,600 (save $500)
• Apple Watch SE (2nd-gen): $189 (save $60)
• Dyson V8 cordless vacuum kit: $350 (save $120)
• Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop (512GB): $680 (save $270)
• Apple Pencil (1st-gen): $79 (save $20)
• Dell 27-inch IPS S2721NX monitor: $95 (save $95)
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro: $300 (save $150)
• Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (512GB): $1,050 (save $400)
• Ring Video Doorbell: $60 (save $40)
• Samsung 75-inch Q80C QLED 4K smart TV: $1,700 (save $200)
• LG large capacity (5 cubic feet) washer/dryer combo: $2,000 (save $1,000)
• Apple MacBook Air (M1): $750 (save $250)
• Philips Hue A19 smart lighting starter kit: $90 (save $40)
• Asus 15.6-inch OLED laptop (1TB): $1,000 (save $300)
• Apple AirPods 2: $90 (save $40)
• Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 curved monitor: $2,000 (save $500)
• Samsung Jet 60 Pet cordless stick vacuum: $259 (save $71)
• Bose smart soundbar 900 with Dolby Atmos: $600 (save $150)
• Shark 3-in-1 Max air purifier, heater and fan: $300 (save $150)
• Samsung 85-inch TU690T Crystal 4K smart TV: $1,000 (save $300)
• GoPro Hero12 Black action camera: $350 (save $50)
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro wired gaming headset: $200 (save $50)
• TP-Link Tapo smart Wi-Fi outdoor plug with Matter: $20 (save $10)
• Whirlpool 1.7-cubic-foot over-range microwave: $180 (save $180)
• Bella Pro Series 8-quart digital air fryer: $30 (save $80)
• Yummly smart meat thermometer: $50 (save $50)
• Up to 40% off major appliances

Some items may have additional discounts available for My Best Buy Plus or Total members, so you may want to consider signing up if you haven’t yet. Those are paid accounts, but you could make the money back in exclusive savings during this event or throughout the year if you shop at Best Buy regularly. There are some other perks too, like like free two-day shipping with no minimum amount and extended return windows.

And if you want even more Presidents Day deals, check out our posts on mattresses, home security devices, Amazon devices, home goods and other great items.

The start of the 2024 MLS season is almost upon us, and Apple TV’s soccer service MLS Season Pass is once again the only way to catch all the soccer action live.

Free-scoring Columbus Crew enter the new campaign as the defending MLS Cup Final champions, but all eyes will inevitably be on the challenge put up by a full season of a Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami.

While the offseason hasn’t seen as seismic a signing as the one that saw the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner join the club last year, Miami have nevertheless made a significant new recruit for 2024 with the addition of Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez. The move reunites Suárez with Inter’s trio of fellow golden-era Barcelona veterans Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Messi.

Other big-name new players to the MLS for the new campaign include experienced French international goalkeeper Hugo Loris who joins from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur while the New York Red Bulls have been boosted by the addition of Swedish attacking midfielder Emil Forsberg from sister club RB Leipzig.

Apple TV Plus will once again be the exclusive provider of every Major League Soccer match, with the company’s MLS Season Pass giving viewers access to watch games on TVs, phones and other devices, for $15 a month or $99 for the season.

If you’re already a subscriber to the Apple TV Plus streaming service, that fee is reduced to $13 a month or $79 for the season.

While a handful of select matches will also air on Fox and FS1, MLS Season Pass remains the only way to watch every Major League Soccer game this season. There are no blackouts for local games and no need to switch between different apps or channels to find different matches, while the service will also be carrying Leagues Cup matches, plus games from MLS Next.

And it’s not only available in the US: Soccer fans in over 100 countries can subscribe, including Canada, Mexico, the UK and Australia.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch Major League Soccer on Apple TV this year.

Franklin Armstrong moved into Charlie Brown’s neighborhood back in 1968, and it was a big deal. Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip featured only white characters at the time, and when he brought in Franklin as a Black friend for Charlie Brown and crew, the Civil Rights Movement was raging, and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., had been assassinated just months before.

Despite some pushback, Schulz, as noted by The Washington Post, stood his ground, and Franklin became a regular character, if not an especially major one. Now, however, he’s starring in his own origin story and TV special, “Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin,” which began airing Feb. 16 on Apple TV Plus, midway through Black History Month.

How to watch ‘Welcome Home, Franklin’

You’re going to need Apple TV Plus. If you already have a subscription, perhaps to watch Ted Lasso or Severance, you’re good. Just log in and search for the show.

If you don’t have an Apple TV Plus subscription, you can sign up for the site’s seven-day free trial and either cancel or choose to subscribe when your free week ends.

Franklin’s little-known life — and last name

In the comic strip, Franklin met Charlie Brown at the beach, and they bonded over a beach ball. That meeting is referenced in the special, where Franklin’s family moves into Charlie Brown’s neighborhood. The boys end up partnering for a local soapbox derby race, and if you know anything about Charlie Brown’s skills and luck with any sporting event, you know they face a bumpy road.

The special also delves deeper than the strip ever did into Franklin’s life. Turns out he’s an army kid who has to move often, but he finds strength in a notebook filled with his grandfather’s advice on friendship.

Franklin has a last name now — Armstrong. As noted by NPR, Schulz chose it to honor his friend and fellow cartoonist, Robb Armstrong, who created the pioneering comic strip JumpStart, about a Black family. In the 1990s, Schulz asked Armstrong if he could use his name for Franklin, and Armstrong agreed, calling it a “tremendous honor.”

Controversy over Peanuts on Apple TV Plus

Fans feel protective of the Peanuts gang, which has been a part of American (and global) lives since 1950. The animated holiday TV specials hold a special place in many hearts as an annual family tradition.

But in 2020, Apple TV Plus bought the rights to the Peanuts catalog, upsetting many who wanted the programs to stay free. Apple compromised, and now the popular holiday specials have a short period each year where they’re free to anyone, before going back behind the subscription paywall.

There’s no similar free period for “Welcome Home, Franklin,” though the Apple TV Plus seven-day free trial mentioned above comes close — if you haven’t already burned through yours.