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Apple released iOS 17.2 in December, and the update brought some security patches and long-awaited features, like the Journal app, to your iPhone. One of the anticipated features the update brought to iPhones was Contact Key Verification, a security tool meant to help verify that the person you’re texting is who they say they are.

Apple wrote in December 2022 that with Contact Key Verification, people who might find themselves in dangerous situations, like journalists, activists and members of government organizations, can verify that they are messaging who they intend to. While most people won’t find themselves targeted in such a way, Apple wrote that the tool provides an important layer of security to those who might.

Here’s how to enable Contact Key Verification and how to use the new security feature. Note, both you and the person you’re messaging need to have this feature enabled for it to work properly.

How to enable Contact Key Verification

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap your Apple ID (your name and picture) near the top of your screen.
3. Tap Contact Key Verification near the bottom of the menu.
4. Tap the switch next to Verification in iMessage.

Next you’ll see a splash screen that explains Contact Key Verification. Tap Continue on this screen.

You might be taken to another splash screen that says you need to update some of your devices in order to turn the feature on. You can either tap OK and then update the devices, or you can tap Remove Devices in Settings. However, you should probably update your devices even if you don’t plan on using Contact Key Verification.

Verifying the identity of yourself and others

After you’ve enabled the feature, the Contact Key Verification menu will have a new option called Show Public Verification Code. Tap this new option and you’ll see a string of letters, numbers and symbols. This code is how people verify they are messaging you.

Next, tap Copy Verification Code beneath your code, and you’ll be able to paste your code wherever you want to share it, like in a message or online. Now others can verify they’re messaging you, and if their code doesn’t match their code online, you’ll know you might not be talking to the right person.

Generating codes in Messages

You can also generate a code with someone directly in Messages. This is a quick way for both you and another person to simultaneously verify identities and devices, but you and the other person need to have Contact Key Verification enabled for this to work.

If you both have the tool enabled, here’s how you make a code directly in Messages.

1. Open Messages.
2. Start a conversation with someone or tap into the right conversation.
3. Tap the person’s name at the top of the conversation.
4. Tap Verify Contact near the bottom of the menu.

Then, compare the six-digit codes generated on both devices. If the codes match, tap Mark as Verified, then tap Update on the following screen. Now that person’s contact card will have the code associated with it, and a checkmark will appear next to their name in Messages.

If the codes don’t match, tap No Match. You might not be communicating with the right person, and you should stop messaging them until you can verify their identity.

For more on iOS 17, check out what new features could be coming in iOS 17.4, what was included in iOS 17.3 and our iOS 17 cheat sheet,.

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 gaming world’s latest obsession, Palworld — and other benefits, like online multiplayer and deals on non-Game Pass titles.

Last month, Game Pass Ultimate added the instant phenomenon Palworld, which already has 7 million players, and it continues to add new titles. Here are the games coming to the service soon.

Train Sim World 4

Available now.

If you’re a fan of model trains, but don’t have the space in your home for the tracks — or a means to finance the hobby — you should give Train Sim World 4 a try. In this game, you can learn how to operate a train and take it across countries like Australia, Germany and the US. You can run different scenarios where you can change things like the weather en route for an added challenge, or you can go into Free Roam and ride the rails however you want.

Madden NFL 24

Available now.

Madden NFL 24 is joining Game Pass Ultimate just in time for Super Bowl Sunday. The latest installment in the football franchise introduces some new gameplay mechanics, like an upgraded passing system that adds jump and dive passes to your arsenal. Your in-game playbook has also been expanded, putting more than 70 new formations and at least 500 new plays at your disposal. So if you’re not a fan of the Chiefs or the 49ers, play some Madden instead this Sunday.

Resident Evil 3

Available: Feb. 13

About a month after Game Pass Ultimate added the award-winning RE2 remake to its library, subscribers will be able to play the next Resident Evil remake as well. RE3 puts you back in the shoes of Jill Valentine as she attempts to escape from the zombie outbreak that’s taken over Raccoon City. You’ll have to solve puzzles and figure out the best routes of escape in this survival horror game, all while being stalked by the walking weapon Nemesis.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Available: Feb. 14

This game makes its return to Game Pass Ultimate almost three years after it was removed from the service. This Metroidvania-style game was developed by Koji Igarashi, a former Castlevania series producer, and it feels like another installment in that series. You’ll explore a castle, solve puzzles and use magic and physical weapons to rid the land of monsters and demons.

A Little to the Left

Available: Feb. 15

This cozy puzzle game will have you stacking documents, sorting postcards and cleaning areas.

“A Little to the Left is all about tidying messes into pleasing arrangements, without worrying about timers or fail-states,” Anne Macmillan, co-founder of developer Max Inferno, told Xbox.com. “It’s peaceful and accessible, with simple controls that anyone can quickly understand.”

Just as you think you’ve solved these puzzles, though, a playful cat may come along and mess up your progress. But so it goes. You’re not racing against a clock, so solve the puzzle again and hope the cat minds its own business.

PlateUp!

Available: Feb. 15

Have you thought about starting your own restaurant, or just caught up on The Bear and want more chaos? If so, you should give this a try. PlateUp! is a cooking action game that lets you experience the ups and downs of the restaurant business without any of the financial risk. You design your restaurant and kitchen, cook up dishes and plan out who’s working which shift so your new place thrives.

Return to Grace

Available: Feb. 20

This narrative adventure game puts you in the boots of a space archaeologist who’s just discovered the resting place of an AI god named Grace. Your goal now is to befriend Grace’s fractured variants and discover why the AI was shut down in the first place.

Titles leaving Game Pass

While you’ll be able to play the above games on Game Pass Ultimate in the coming weeks, there are a few titles that are leaving the service on Feb. 15. You have some time to finish any side-quests, but once these titles are gone you’ll have to buy them separately.

• Opus: Echo of Starsong
• Galactic Civilizations 3

For more on Xbox, here are more titles available on Game Pass Ultimate now and what to know about the gaming service.

It’s been a big week for Swifties, and now there’s the news that Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert film will be exclusively streaming on Disney Plus beginning March 15. Disney CEO Bob Iger made the announcement Wednesday during the company’s first-quarter earnings call. The newest edition of the concert release will include Swift’s performance of Cardigan and four additional acoustic songs.

An earlier edition of the flick arrived in theaters in October and then the movie landed on platforms such as Prime Video as an on-demand rental late last year. It’s one of the highest-grossing concert films ever in the US, Deadline noted.

Disney also announced that Moana 2, the sequel to the 2016 film, will be released in theaters this November.

“We know audiences are going to absolutely love the chance to relive the electrifying Taylor Swift Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) whenever they want on Disney Plus,” Iger said during the call.

Disney didn’t immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment about the exact release time and the flick’s international availability.

This has been an action-packed week for Swift, who won two Grammy awards on Sunday — including Album of the Year — and announced her fourth studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, during the show. She’s also expected to be at the Super Bowl this coming Sunday as the Kansas City Chiefs and boyfriend Travis Kelce take on the San Francisco 49ers.

What’s included in the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film

The Eras Tour concert film is a roughly three-hour-long recorded version of Swift’s hit stadium tour. The version that’s coming to Disney Plus will feature Swift’s concert performance of Cardigan, which was previously cut from the theatrical release of the movie.

Disney Plus’ version of the flick will also feature four additional acoustic songs, though it’s uncertain what those songs might be. Swift recorded six acoustic songs while filming the concert back in August 2023, and the performances of Our Song and You’re on Your Own, Kid made both the theatrical and on-demand rental versions of the film. That means acoustic performances of I Can See You; Maroon; You Are in Love; and Death by a Thousand Cuts are up for grabs to be featured in this version of the film.

Songs excluded from the Disney Plus cut of the movie include Long Live; The Archer; Wildest Dreams; and No Body, No Crime.

How to stream Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert film

The movie is scheduled to hit Disney Plus on March 15. Note that Disney Plus will be the exclusive streaming home of the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film, so if you want to catch the flick in all its glory, you’ll need to be a subscriber to either Disney Plus or one of Disney’s bundled packages.

The company revealed more big news on Wednesday when it announced it’s officially cracking down on account-sharing this summer. In a move similar to Netflix, the company announced that not only would password-sharing be prohibited, but if subscribers want to add members outside their household to their plan, they can do so for a fee.

For more, here are the best streaming services of 2024 and the best streaming devices of 2024.

Cricut devices have made a splash among crafters in recent years, as well as novices looking to get a jump start on all sorts of creative endeavors, including homemade gifts. Cricut machines and accessories tend to be pricey, but right now Amazon is slashing prices by up to 40% on a number of Cricut products, making it more affordable to snag the tools you need for your next project. We don’t know how long this offer will last, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later.

If you’re looking for most versatility, the Cricut Maker 3 is a great option. It’s far more than just a vinyl cutter, as you can swap out the tools and materials easily to create all sorts of things from cards to stickers to signs and beyond. In fact, this machine can cut more than 300 types of materials. It’s down to $379 right now. That’s a $50 discount on its list price.

Budget-conscious buyers looking to get started without breaking the bank may choose to invest in the Cricut Joy. It’s discounted by 34% right now, dropping the price from $149 to just $99 for a limited time. It cuts over 50 different materials, including everything from cardstock to vinyl decal and beyond — and if you’re short on space, this machine weighs under four pounds and comes in at under 10 inches, making it easy to store when you’re not crafting.

For those wanting a professional press to make t-shirts, tote bags and other items, the commercial-level Cricut Autopress has a lot to offer. It’s equipped with a 15 by 12-inch ceramic-coated heat plate that can reach temperatures as high as 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It also auto-adjusts for applying even pressure, which will work with materials up to 2 inches thick. And the dial lets you create precise time and temperature settings, plus there is an auto release and auto-off for more convenience. It typically lists for $999, but during this sale you can score one for just $599.

There are plenty of other tools and accessories available, so be sure to shop the entire sale selection. And if Cricut isn’t really your style, check out our roundup of 3D printer deals for more savings on crafty tech and supplies.

Even the best phones, computers and tablets need to be accessorized, and Speck is one of the companies that has become the go-to for so many people. Whether it’s a new case for your iPhone 15 or a cover for your MacBook Air, Speck has it all. And now we can help you pick up those essential accessories while saving some money in the process.

Right now Speck is offering a 15% discount across its entire website when you enter our exclusive discount code at checkout. All you have to do is make sure to enter the code CNET15 and do it soon — this deal is live from today, Feb. 7 through to midnight PT on Feb. 14. If you’ve been on the fence about picking up that case, now might be the time to act.

Speck’s website is full of great accessories whether you’re in the Apple ecosystem or prefer your devices to run Android. The latest Samsung Galaxy S24 is covered as you’d expect, with cases starting from $34 after entering our code, and that’s just the beginning. There are accessories for Google’s Pixel 8 Pro from just $17 and the rest of the Google lineup, too. Just remember that you do need to enter that code at checkout, otherwise you’ll pay more than you need to. There are even Apple AirTag cases from just $13 so you need never lose anything again.

Reading this too late and cradling a broken phone? No problem, we’ve got you covered — be sure to check out our collection of the best phone deals before placing your order anywhere else.

Apple released iOS 17.4 beta 2 to public beta testers on Wednesday, a day after the company released the beta to developers and about two weeks after the release of iOS 17.3. The latest iOS beta brings new features, including major changes for people in the European Union and new emoji, and bug fixes to some developers and beta testers’ iPhones.

Read more: Why You Should Download iOS 17.3 Now

We recommend downloading a beta only on something other than your primary device. Since this isn’t the final version of iOS 17.4, these features might be buggy and battery life may be short, and it’s best to keep those troubles on a secondary device.

If you’re a developer or public beta tester, here are some of the new features you can find in iOS 17.4 beta 2. Note that the beta is not the final version of iOS 17.4, so these might not be the only new features to land on your iPhone when iOS 17.4 is released. There’s no word on the public release for iOS 17.4 just yet, but Apple has indicated it will likely be in March.

Downloading other app stores in the EU

Apple introduced a significant change to Safari, the App Store and iOS with iOS 17.4 beta 1, but only for people in the EU. With iOS 17.4 beta 1, people in the EU can download an alternative app store and apps from outside the App Store. According to CNET’s Katie Collins, 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 Thursday, to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The company said these changes will go into effect once Europeans download iOS 17.4 in March or later. There’s no word on whether these changes will be available globally.

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 the first iOS 17.4 beta. 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.

Regional identifier no longer available

In the first beta of iOS 17.4, there was a regional identifier called Identifiable_Region. You could see this by going to Settings > General > About and scrolling to the bottom of the page. However, with iOS 17.4 beta 2, this regional identifier has been removed. It’s unclear why, but since the setting had a broken link and an odd naming convention — it had an underscore and all caps lettering — it’s possible this was never meant to be viewable in the first place.

At least 100 new emoji

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

More Stolen Device Protection options

With iOS 17.4 beta 1, Apple introduced a few new options in Stolen Device Protection. 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.

Podcasts can now show transcripts

In the first iOS 17.4 beta, you can read the transcripts of your favorite Podcasts as you listen to them. To see the transcripts, go into Podcasts and start listening to a show, tap the show’s banner across the bottom of your screen. Then, 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.

Another digital clock widget

In the second iOS 17.4 beta, 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.

New Home button in the Music and Books apps

Apple introduced a Home button in Apple Music with iOS 17.4 beta 1 and in the Books app with iOS 17.4 beta 2. 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

With the first iOS 17.4 beta, 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.

Stopwatch in Live Activities

With iOS 17.4 beta 1, your Clock app’s stopwatch function can now display across the top of your screen on iPhones with Live Activities, like the iPhone 14 Pro or the iPhone 15. Before when you’d use the stopwatch, you’d have to stay in the app to keep an eye on the stopwatch. With this beta, you can start the stopwatch, then go to your home screen or into another app and the stopwatch will display across the top of your screen.

Those are some of the new features developers and beta testers will see in the second iOS 17.4 beta. That doesn’t mean these are the only features coming to the next iOS update, or that these changes will stick when iOS 17.4 is released to the public. As of right now, there’s no exact release date for iOS 17.4, but Apple has indicated it might be released in March.

For more on iOS 17, check out what was included in iOS 17.3 and iOS 17.2. You can also check out our iOS 17 cheat sheet.

Samsung, Motorola and even Google have released their own foldable phones like the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Motorola Razr Plus reboot and Pixel Fold, respectively. As the niche fills with Android folding phones, Apple still hasn’t introduced its own foldable, despite evidence mounting for years that the company is seemingly tinkering with not just a folding device but a name: the iPhone Flip.

The newest rumors suggest Apple has been working on iPhone Flip models in two different sizes, though there have been difficulties in making the devices to Apple’s demanding standards. The company may also be working on a folding tablet with a screen around the size of an iPad Mini.

Prior rumors said Apple may not launch its own flexible screen device until 2025, and Samsung hasn’t let phone fans forget it by releasing an app that will let Apple phone owners experience a Z Fold-esque experience by placing two iPhones side-by-side.

Years ago in 2017, folks predicted that a foldable iPhone could launch in the near future of 2020 — which didn’t happen. Analysts and leakers have been kicking the release date down the road ever since, and rumors and wish lists have hung around as phone fans keep their hopes up. Absent any confirmed details from Apple, here’s everything we know so far about the company’s future foray into foldables.

Two foldable iPhone Flips?

Foldable iPhone hopefuls will at least be encouraged that Apple seemingly continues to tinker with an iPhone Flip design. The company is said to be working on two sizes of folding iPhones, according to a report by The Information, which align with prior rumors in suggesting the phones will be in the clamshell format like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 or Motorola Razr Plus.

But it sounds like Apple’s been struggling to meet its high expectations: the company’s design team wants the iPhone Flip to be half as thin as current iPhone models and adding displays on the outside that are visible when the device is folded shut, according to the report.

Development on the iPhone Flip was halted around 2020, the report noted, in order to focus on a new project: a folding iPad. This device would have an 8-inch display to be around the size of the iPad Mini. The foldable tablet supposedly had less strict durability and thickness requirements, as it wouldn’t need to fit in pockets like an iPhone Flip. Apple was still working on ways to reduce the crease in the middle of the folding display and get the iPad to lie fully flat.

Release date: The iPhone Flip launch could be in 2025

It seems to be an open secret that Apple is working toward a foldable iPhone. The company has been registering patents for foldable technologies for almost a decade now, and while there’s no guarantee that one will come out even after all that research (remember AirPower?), there’s still been buzz and possible release dates floated for years — though still not one solid enough to get excited about.

Early rumors pointed to 2021 as a potential target date, but the year passed with no foldable iPhone in sight. A March 2021 report from longtime Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo (via MacRumors) suggested 2023 might be more realistic (though that possibility is dwindling as the year runs out). According to Kuo, Apple still needs to figure out technology and mass production issues before bringing a device like this to market, hence the wait. Speculation later in 2021 from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman aligned with Kuo’s predictions: In his Power On Newsletter, Gurman said that the foldable iPhone may not arrive for another two to three years.

But since then, new rumors have pointed to an even later release. Reliable display analyst Ross Young said in February that the foldable iPhone has been pushed back to 2025, and Kuo reaffirmed his predicted release window in a tweet in April 2022.

“Apple may launch its first foldable product in 2025 at the earliest, which may be a foldable iPad or a hybrid of iPad & iPhone,” Kuo wrote in the tweet.

The rumor mill has quieted down since then, and it still doesn’t look like we’ll get an iPhone foldable in 2024, especially as a report in early 2024 by The Information suggests that schedule could have been pushed back. That still leaves one year before Kuo’s prediction could possibly become reality.

Read more: Top Foldable Phones for 2023

Design: What will the foldable iPhone look like?

A 2021 report from Bloomberg indicated Apple already has a working prototype of a foldable iPhone display. While it’s not yet a working model, it’s a step up from a patent — which, until then, was all we had seen.

Apple seems to have taken out every patent under the sun when it comes to foldable displays, including an origami-style folding display, a flip-up display and even a wraparound display. And while we don’t know which one will make the final cut, both Kuo and Bloomberg seem to agree that the current prototype is more of a traditional fold-out design.

Unlike Microsoft’s Surface Duo, which has hinges on the exterior, Apple’s would have one continuous display with a hidden hinge mechanism like the Galaxy Fold.

However, Apple leaker Jon Prosser reported in early 2021 that the iPhone Flip will likely use a clamshell design and come in several “fun colors.” Between the flashy purple iPhone 12 and the new blue and pink options for the iPhone 13, an array of fun colors for Apple’s first foldable device is definitely a possibility.

YouTuber ConceptsiPhone also gave us a glimpse into what the iPhone Flip could look with concept art of the foldable iPhone in the colors blue, red, gold and green.

Roadblocks: What still stands in Apple’s way?

While Samsung and others have been testing the waters, Apple has been learning from the pain points of their foldable devices and figuring out how they’d be used.

One of these pain points: the crease. A lot of the current cover materials, including the glass and plastic mix that Samsung uses for the Z Fold and Z Flip, show a visible crease when folded out to full screen. To avoid it, Apple would likely have to wait for Corning, Apple’s glass provider, to create some kind of bendable version of its Ceramic Shield screen. The company is already working on a bendable glass but hasn’t announced a launch date for it.

Kuo tweeted in April 2022 that Apple was testing a foldable OLED screen. Korean tech news site The Elec also reported that Apple was working with LG to develop a foldable OLED panel.

Cost: Foldable phones don’t come cheap

Price is another major problem for these types of devices. Although Samsung still has the most affordable folding phone with the clamshell Z Flip 5 at $999, most others in the category are book-style foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Pixel Fold, which are around twice the price of most flagship phones. We wouldn’t expect a foldable iPhone to be cheaper than its rivals. Apple’s foldable needs to be in line with current foldable and nonfoldable models to be able to compete against other brands and entice iPhone users to ditch their single-screen devices and pay more for a foldable.

A report last year found that half of American consumers are interested in buying a foldable phone, though Apple customers are slightly less willing to make the leap than Samsung or LG users. But perhaps the “Apple effect” will change those stats if and when a foldable iPhone ever becomes reality.

For more, check out everything we’ve heard about the iPhone 15. You can also see the most exciting phones to look out for in 2023.

A lot of folks rely on Microsoft Office daily for work or school, or really even just personal tasks here and there. Unfortunately, the monthly subscription fees can be frustrating for some, and if you buy an Office Pro 2021 license from Microsoft, you’re going to be paying a substantial $440.

But you don’t have to pay that much. Right now there’s a Stacksocial deal offering a massive 72% discount, which knocks that price down to just $60. Just be aware that the offer ends on Feb. 12, so take advantage of it while the deal is still available. Or if that’s still a bit pricey for you, you could always grab the Office Pro Plus 2019 version instead.

Just note that Mac users will get only the basic Home and Business suite, while Windows users will get the Professional suite, which includes Office Publisher and Office Access, as well.

StackSocial’s deal is a great bargain when compared with the online Microsoft 365 subscription suite, which starts at $7 a month or $70 a year for individuals. There’s a free online version of Microsoft Office that you can use as well, but it isn’t nearly as feature-complete. (Separately — and notably — Apple users should be aware that Outlook is now a free app for the Mac.)

Now, a deal this good comes with some caveats. First, the code provided can be used one time for a single computer, so you won’t be able to install it on multiple machines in your home, and if your current computer happens to die, you could run into a snag when trying to transfer it. Likewise, you’re passing up on other benefits you’d get as a 365 subscriber. You won’t get any OneDrive Cloud Storage, nor will you get the fancy new cloud-based AI features like Microsoft Copilot. While the apps should continue to work as long as your computer does, Microsoft’s support for this version of Office ends on Oct. 13, 2026.

To that last point: Though this is listed as a “lifetime license” — that is, the lifetime of the computer you installed it on — it’s worth noting there’s always a risk that Microsoft could terminate the license. Versions of StackSocial’s deal have been running for more than a year; the one we bought in early 2022, for instance, still works fine.

It’s almost time to watch the Kansas City Chiefs face the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl, and to take in Usher’s halftime performance. But hours ahead of the big game, Puppy Bowl XX is airing, with two teams of cute, adoptable dogs on the green turf.

The Puppy Bowl action happens at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on Sunday, Feb. 11, with a pregame show that starts at 1 p.m ET (10 a.m. PT). Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the event will feature more than 125 dogs, a halftime kitty show, and a new puppy assistant coach. During the show, viewers will meet pets from all over the country and learn how to potentially adopt a furry new family member. Among the stars are a group of special needs pups, a tiny dog named Sweetpea who weighs in at 1.7 pounds, and the latest inductees to the Puppy Bowl Hall of Fame.

The event will be simulcast live across multiple networks and streaming platforms: Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, TBS, TruTV, Discovery Plus and Max. Here’s how to stream the furry face-off if you don’t have cable.

Where to stream Puppy Bowl 2024

Stream the Puppy Bowl with a VPN

Perhaps you’re traveling abroad and want to stream the Puppy Bowl 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 show 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, 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 stream content legally 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 the Puppy Bowl will be streaming on a service like Max. Before you open the streaming app, make sure you’re connected to your VPN using your selected region. If you want to stream the show on more than one device, it’s possible you’ll need to configure each one 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 issues with streaming, first make sure 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.

While you used to need a scanner, printer, fax and a bunch of other things just a few years ago, a lot of that physical-to-digital management can be handled altogether in one go with the iScanner app. It works for both iPhone and iPad, and will let you take high-quality scans of pretty much whatever you want. Not only that, but it has functions and modes that let it measure objects, solve equations and do a bunch of other useful things that are quite handy. As such, it’s pretty great whether you’re a student or a small-to-medium business and well worth the cost.

Right now,you can save 79% on a lifetime subscription to iScanner, which knocks the original price of $200 down to just $40.

The document scanner allows you to scan contracts and notes, fax papers, upload books and documents, as well as store scans as PDFs or JPEG files. Another great feature is that this app can count similar objects automatically using your device’s camera, and it can solve math problems and equations by scanning a handwritten or typed math expression, which can save you a lot of time.

The app also lets you edit your scans, getting rid of curves, skews and warps with AI-powered scan straightener tech. Plus, you can add e-signatures to your documents, so that you can conduct business with less hassle. You can even share through email or upload scanned documents to cloud services like Dropbox, Evernote and Google Drive, or you can print a copy right from the app. And don’t worry about sensitive documents — the app protects your confidential scans by locking folders and files with a PIN.

Read more: How to Scan Key Tax Documents With Your Phone