Monday, September 5, 2022

'Thor: Love and Thunder' Review: Taika Waititi's Marvel Return Is a Disappointing Encore - CNET

The blockbuster, coming to Disney Plus and digital on Thursday, fails to give Natalie Portman and Christian Bale enough time to shine as it tries to stuff in too much.

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'Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith' Makes Luke Skywalker 'The Most Powerful Person in The Galaxy - CNET

Author Adam Christopher reveals how he came up with Rey's parents' names and how his Star Wars novel dives into creepy, fascinating Sith lore.

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Latest Tech News

Tracking down a location could soon be as easy as checking Google Docs, thanks to a new update to the service.

The word processor is now allowing users to place a Google Maps "chip" directly into their document using the increasingly-useful @ menu. 

Going forward, Google Docs users simply need to type an @ symbol, then the location or address they want to include, in order to add a Google Maps overhead map view into their document.

Google Maps chips

Clicking on the place chip will then take the user directly to Google Maps, opening up the app, and allowing information on the destination to be viewed in the Google Maps side panel. Users can also then find directions to the location, as well as other information such as opening times and busy hours.

To insert a chip into a document of their own, meanwhile, users can go to Insert > Smart chips > Place within Google Docs.

The feature is rolling out now, and is open to all Google Docs and Workspace users.

The news follows an update from Google in 2021 that allowed users to insert a Google Maps place chip into a Google Doc by pasting a Maps link directly into the document. 

Google Docs Maps chip

(Image credit: Google Workspace)

The update is the latest addition to Google Docs as the company looks to make the service a better collaborative experience for users everywhere.

Users of the office software will soon be able to add dropdown chips and table templates to their documents, which Google says will make it easier for users to collaborate on projects. Dropdown chips will allow Google Docs users to indicate the status of their document or to add project milestones within it.

The office software is making it easier to add emojis to your work by allowing users to search for and insert the symbols directly inline with your text.

Users will now simply need to type in "@" followed by the term, emotion, object or whatever other thing they need to bring up a pop-up menu of emojis. In addition, users can also type “@:” or “:” to see a dropdown list of emojis and the option to navigate to the entire catalogue of emojis.



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Latest Tech News

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has revealed it inadvertently exposed the data of approximately 120,000 US taxpayers. 

The agency says that all of the offending information has now been removed from its website, and it will send notifications to all those impacted within the coming weeks.

The leak impacted users of a specific type of business tax return, Form 990-T, used by tax-exempt entities such as charities and retirement accounts, to pay income tax on income that is generated from investments or unrelated to their primary purpose. 

What was revealed?

The leak included names, contact information, and financial information about income within the impacted accounts, according to the agency's statement, however, it reportedly didn't contain Social Security numbers, complete individual income information, detailed financial account data, or other "sensitive information that could impact a taxpayer’s credit".

This isn't the first time the IRS has struggled with data protection issues.

Investigative journalism organization ProPublica published IRS data relating to some of the wealthiest individuals in the US such as Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, and the source of the leak is as of yet unknown.

However, the agency's IT systems and tax software could soon be in for a huge improvement.

In August 2022, US President Joe Biden signed off an additional $80 billion of funding for the IRS, part of which was earmarked to help overhaul its IT systems and to hire experienced new technology specialists.

But it's not just the IRS that has leaked data in recent months, it seems all types of organizations, big and small are vulnerable to data leaks. 

The data of over 2.5 million individuals who have taken out student loans with either the Oklahoma Student Loan Authority (OSLA) or EdFinancial has been exposed in a data breach as a result of a third-party IT provider becoming compromised.



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Apple's 'Far Out' Sept. 7 Event: How to Watch the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8 Reveals - CNET

New iPhone models and new Apple Watches are likely making their debut.

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Latest Tech News

Samsung has confirmed it suffered a data breach which led to the personal information of customers being leaked online.

The company revealed in a blog post that customer data had been compromised on August 4, following an apparent security incident in the preceding weeks.

It added that an “unauthorized third party" had acquired information from some of Samsung’s US systems, including names, contact information, dates of birth and product registration details. However, no credit card numbers or social security numbers were breached.

Samsung data breach

“The information affected for each relevant customer may vary. We are notifying customers to make them aware of this matter,” Samsung said in its statement. 

The company added that it had "taken actions" to secure the affected systems, and has "engaged a leading outside cybersecurity firm and are coordinating with law enforcement". 

There was no precise information on exactly how many customers were affected, with news of the breach occuring on the US Labor Day holiday weekend, but Samsung said it is contacting affected customers now, reassuring users that, "there is no immediate action necessary for any of Samsung’s platforms." 

It did recommend that users avoid clicking on any links or attachments in unexpected or suspicious emails, and to take care when dealing with any communications asking for their personal information.

It added that consumer devices were not affected, so Samsung devices can be used as usual.

"We are committed to protecting the security and privacy of our customers," the company said. "We have engaged leading cybersecurity experts and are coordinating with law enforcement. We will continue to work diligently to develop and implement immediate and longer-term next steps to further enhance the security across our systems."

The news is the latest in a series of incidents affecting Samsung, which has proved a popular target for hackers and criminals in recent months.

In April 2022, the company confirmed it had been hit by the Lapsus$ cybercrime gang, which published a 190GB data dump of intel allegedly belonging to the company, including a host of confidential and valuable technical data.



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Sunday, September 4, 2022

Who Is the Stranger in 'The Rings of Power'? - CNET

Nobody knows who this mysterious Rings of Power character is. Here are our thoughts...

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Best Wireless Mouse Deals: Save on Travel, Gaming and Everyday Computing Mice - CNET

Whether you need a wireless mouse at your workspace, gaming station or on the go, you'll find the best prices here starting at $15.

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Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers 2022 - CNET

Get great sleep all night with these top-rated brands for belly sleepers.

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'Star Wars: The Princess and the Scoundrel' Weds Leia Organa and Han Solo in Style - CNET

Book review: Author Beth Revis' Star Wars novel gives the legendary couple a wonderful wedding but doesn't make their honeymoon adventure quite as engaging.

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Every Targaryen in 'House of the Dragon' Explained - CNET

HBO's House of the Dragon has lots of new characters to familiarize yourself with. Here's what you need to know.

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Latest Tech News

Labor Day weekend is here, but does that mean you should take advantage of the plethora of Labor Day mattress sales that are live? We understand if you're reluctant to splurge on one of the best mattresses right now if you think you can potentially score a better value in late November during Black Friday mattress deals.

However, if you're looking for a fantastic savings on a top mattress, some of this year's Labor Day deals resemble Black Friday-level offers – but it's not as clear-cut as it seems. Below, we'll be comparing Labor Day vs Black Friday mattress sales, using current market trends and past bargains to help you decide whether you should buy now or wait it out.

No matter when you choose to buy, make sure your purchase includes a mattress trial of at least 30 days so you can sufficiently test your brand-new bed at home. Meanwhile, you can transform your sleep for much less by opting for a mattress topper to add comfort and support to your existing setup. (You'll find discounted mattress toppers during Labor Day sales, too.)

Why buy from Labor Day mattress sales?

Historically, Labor Day is among the best times of year to purchase a mattress. If you need a new mattress right now, you'll be able to pocket substantial savings thanks to significant money-off discounts and free bedding bundles. So there's no need to wait until Black Friday if you don't want to pay full price.

Labor Day immediately follows one of the worst times of year to buy a mattress: summer. That's the period when manufacturers hike up their prices before dropping them for Labor Day and Black Friday. Of course, July 4 mattress sales are an obvious exception here, but we'll often see better deals for Labor Day.

As one of the last major holidays before Black Friday, Labor Day can serve as a preview for what's to come in late November. Right now, brands like DreamCloud and GhostBed are hosting Black Friday-level sales on their award-winning beds. There's a chance such offers will make a comeback during Black Friday season – and those will perhaps be even better, as we'll explain in the next section...

Why wait for Black Friday mattress sales?

If scoring the absolute cheapest price for a new mattress is your number one priority, then waiting until Black Friday will work to your benefit. Black Friday mattress sales (and subsequent Cyber Monday mattress deals) are the best ways to score a top mattress at the lowest price of the year. 

Remember that Labor Day immediately follows a period when mattresses are at their most expensive – but even if Labor Day discounts match what we've seen over past Black Friday sales, that won't always translate to the lowest prices. As a rule, mattress costs during Black Friday are typically the cheapest you’ll find them all year as that's when brands will substantially drop their costs.

Whilst we expect Black Friday 2022 to once again be the best time to buy an affordable mattress, keep in mind that we are still in the middle of a cost of living crisis. Inflation is impacting the mattress industry, much like other sectors. This Black Friday may be host to the year's best deals on many top mattresses, but there's a possibility prices won't be as low as we've seen in recent years.

Top 5 mattresses to buy in the Labor Day sales

Labor Day sales are flush with mattress deals across a range of types and price points. Here are the five best Labor Day mattresses that are on par with Black Friday sales (or better), along with more of today's best mattress sales...

1. The DreamCloud Mattress: from $799 $599 + $599 in free gifts at DreamCloud
Editor's choice: The DreamCloud Labor Day mattress sale knocks $200 off the DreamCloud mattress. That matches what we saw during Black Friday 2021, but the free items are worth up to $599, which is the highest valuation we've seen yet. (It comes with the brand's best pillows, a cooling mattress protector and a cotton-blend sheet set.) Add a 365-night risk-free trial plus a Forever Warranty and you have an exceptional deal on a luxury hybrid bed-in-a-box. Read our DreamCloud Mattress review to learn why we rate it so highly for sleepers with back pain and night sweats. View Deal

2. GhostBed Luxe Cooling Mattress: from $2,395 $1,198 + 2 free pillows
Save 50% - 
The 'coolest bed in the world' is now at the lowest prices we've seen. It's by no means a cheap mattress, even after half-off, but considering a queen is now $1,485 when it otherwise retails for $2,970, it's an amazing bargain. Also included with purchase are two free cooling pillows (worth $190) plus 10 years of accident protection from stains and spills on top of the standard 25-year warranty. You'll get 101 nights to trial it. All other GhostBed mattresses are 30% off as well, including the GhostBed Classic from $697View Deal

3. Awara Natural Hybrid Mattress: from $1,398 $799 + $499 in accessories at Awara
Save up to $799 
- This is among the biggest sales we've seen from the brand, which originally appeared during Memorial Day mattress sales. Organic mattresses aren't cheap, but this is a good saving on a popular model by the same company that owns Nectar and DreamCloud (hence the excellent 1-year trial, Forever Warranty, and up to $499 in free bedding included). The Awara is on the firmer side, which makes it a great choice for back or stomach sleepers in need of some extra support. View Deal

4. Nectar Memory Foam Mattress: from $599 $399 + $499 of free gifts at Nectar
Excellent value 
- Nectar is consistently among the best lower-mid-range memory foam mattresses for money out there. For Labor Day, the brand is cutting $200 off its already-affordable flagship mattress and throwing in $499-worth of free pillows, sheets, and a mattress protector. As we note in our Nectar Mattress review, most sleepers will find comfort and pressure relief. An industry-leading 365-night trial applies so you've plenty of time to test it out — along with a Forever Warranty to back your purchase for as long as you own it. View Deal

5. Cocoon by Sealy Chill Foam Mattress: from $769 $499 + free bedding at Cocoon by Sealy
Save 35%
- Another excellent value on a memory foam mattress is courtesy of a consistent discount from Cocoon by Sealy. At 35% off, you can score a queen for $799 (was $1,239) – only $30 more than the all-time low we've tracked. Bring home up to $199 in free bedding, too. The cover is made with phase-change material to regulate your temperature as you sleep and the comfy memory foam delivers a relaxing, body-cradling feel. This is one of the best buys for hot sleepers who don't want to spend a lot on a cooling mattress.View Deal

More Labor Day mattress sales to check out



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Saturday, September 3, 2022

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in September 2022? - CNET

How much you pay for car insurance coverage depends on your particular driving habits. Here's a review of prices today.

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Geico Car Insurance Review for September 2022 - CNET

Geico's insurance prices boast being hundreds of dollars lower than their competition. Here's how the insurance carrier stacks up.

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Best High-Yield Savings Accounts for September 2022 - CNET

High-yield savings account rates are now peeking over 2%.

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Heat Domes and Surging Grid Demand Threaten US Power Grids with Blackouts

A new report shows a sharp increase in peak electricity demand, leading to blackout concerns in multiple states. Here's how experts say ...