Technologies

Tempted by Black Friday Deals? Don’t Buy These Gifts Without Reading This

Whether you’re thinking about buying a smartwatch or a tablet this Black Friday, there are a few ground rules you should know first.

It’s not quite Black Friday yet, but deals are already in full swing, with sales on the AirPods 3, Echo Dot and Hue smart bulb bundle, Google Pixel 6A and so many other items like video doorbells and bluetooth speakers.

But before buying any tech toy you plan to give as a gift, it’s our job to make sure you’ve thought through all the angles, so that your present doesn’t turn into an accidental burden.

Unlike a TikTok-approved hot air brush or clothing from Carhartt, tech gifts add another dimension of reward and usability, but they also introduce issues ranging from privacy and security to old-fashioned compatibility. And that could become an issue for whoever you’re gifting to.

Here’s what you need to know before you buy certain tech gifts — and we’re not talking about the gift receipt.

Beware of extras someone else will have to buy

Nomatter what type of device you end up buying as a gift, keep any extraaccessories it may require in mind. Ask yourself — or the salesperson— if the device is ready to use right out of the box.

For example, if you buy color-changing bulbs like Hue or Wyze, do they require a hub to get them to work? If it’s a phoneor tablet, does it make sense to also give a case, or to let yourfriend or loved one pick one out later? Many phones have ditched the headphonejack, so a dongle to go from a USB-C or Lightning plug to a 3.5mm audioconnection may be needed if you know your recipient has wired headphones or accessories they love.

Another aspect to consider is if your giftee will need to replace stuff they already have. Maybe that new phone requires a different kind of charging cable than what they already use. It may not be your responsibility to replace that, but be aware that your gift could have ripple effects.

More examples to heed: For a Roomba,extra brushes, filters or virtual barriers are going to be items yourloved one will eventually need. Odds are, if you gift a smart speaker,which also doubles as a voice-activated speaker for streaming music, agift card for a subscription to Spotify or Pandora will also be appreciated.

Don’t buy gifts that clash with what they already have

You may have to be crafty about finding out what your friend or family member does or doesn’t already have, but it could make all the difference between a thoughtful gift they can start using right away or one they may need to swap, if integrating it into their life becomes troublesome.

You wouldn’t want to get an Apple Watch for a friend who uses an Android phone (use would be extremely limited) and an all-Apple household probably won’t appreciate the latest Amazon Echo, even if it does have cool new features.

Wireless earbuds are usually a safe bet, and smartwatches (outside of the Apple Watch) generally work with any type of smartphone. Streaming devices like Roku or Fire TV typically work with any TV, as well (just make sure they don’t already have a Roku-enabled TV).

We don’t mean to frighten you, just do what you can to suss out the situation first and of course include a gift receipt so your giftee can make a gift-free exchange if it comes to it. If you have a general idea of what kind of device (or devices) the giftee already uses around the house, here are more specific angles to consider when giving smart home gifts.

If you’re buying a phone as a gift…

If you’re buying someone a phone, the most important thing to consider is making sure the device will work with their wireless carrier of choice.Wireless providers use different technology that can prevent phonesfrom working across competitors’ networks. The last thing you want to dois buy a phone that only works on Verizon Wireless for someone who’s entrenched in T-Mobile.

Eitherask the gift recipient which wireless carrier they use or considerbuying an unlocked phone. Many phone-makers offer an unlocked versionthat will work on almost all wireless carriers. Just know that not everycarrier feature might work, like Wi-Fi calling, which is tuned tospecific networks. This gift is all about the gesture, but it helps to know your audience.

Watch out for privacy red flags

Someproducts have privacy and security implications. Even if you’re OK withhaving a Google Nest speaker and its always-on microphone in your home, yourgiftee might not be as comfortable with the idea. Westore a lot of information on our phones and gadgets. Privateinformation such as banking info, frequently visited locations, ourcurrent location, photos and conversations are all things we blindlytrust our devices with.

At the least, you should take note of companies such as Meta or Amazon, which are constantly surrounded by privacy questions and concerns, if you’re considering buying the Quest 2 or the latest Ring Video Doorbell 4 as a gift.

If you’re looking at a product from a company you’ve never heard of, or even for companies you have, a quick Google search is in order. Looking up «Meta/Facebook privacy issues,» for example, should surface any red flags.

Know how long a company will support its product

Routinesoftware updates are an important part of owning a tech product. Notonly do updates make a product better over time but they can fix andimprove the security of a device.

As such, it’s important to haveconfidence that companies are going to continue to support a devicethrough updates, especially when security issues are discovered (as theyoften are).

If you’re shopping for a phone, the Apple iPhone and Google Pixel receive consistent and timely updates. Outside of Google’s own phones, Samsung has a good track record for consistent updates to its Android phones, as do the OnePlus phones.

Software updates for smart speakers and streaming devices such as a Chromecast or Apple TV are handled in the background, without you ever knowing. That’s ideal for those who aren’t all that tech-savvy.

It’s a good idea to look into how long a company promises to support a product with software updates after its release.

Finally, there are bound to be many great deals and promotions this shopping season, especially around Black Friday.Don’t be swayed by a deal on a product that seems too good to be true.If the product is discontinued (or soon-to-be), your gift could end upbecoming an expensive paperweight. Again, Google is your friend when itcomes to learning more about a product and its future.

Make sure you grab the right model

Evenif you’re handed a list with a specific gadget gift idea, make sure you’re getting the right model. Many look and sound the same.

For example, the Nintendo Switch comes in three versions: the original ($300 full retail price), OLED ($350 retail) and Lite($200 retail). If you’re opting for the Lite — the least expensive version —you should know that it doesn’t come with Joy-Con controllers, not allgames are compatible with it and it doesn’t feature TV or tabletop mode.And while you could swing for the fences with the OLED model (whichcomes with a 7-inch touchscreen, 64GB of storage and abuilt-in wired LAN port), the original still packs a punch and comeswith many of the features the Lite is missing.

Thesame can be said for products that were released earlier in the yearand are likely to be upgraded and replaced shortly after the holidays.Take some time, do your research and make an educated choice.

Still not sure where to start? Here are the best phones of 2022, along with our 2022 Black Friday cheat sheet that includes items for different budgets and gifts for different kinds of people. Youcan also check out our favorite selections for popular products likesmart speakers, tablets and laptops.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 29, #963

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for Jan. 29 #963.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

What a fun NYT Connections puzzle today! There’s a favorite children’s story in one group, and four classic author surnames that, naturally, don’t show up in an «author surname» category. Read on for clues and all of today’s Connections answers.

The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Maybe it’s Maybelline.

Green group hint: Too hot, too cold, just right.

Blue group hint: Raise a cup.

Purple group hint: They all sound like words with a similar meaning.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Makeup.

Green group: Featured in Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Blue group: Ending with drinking vessels.

Purple group: Homophones of words meaning «brutal.»

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is makeup. The four answers are bronzer, foundation, liner and stain.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is featured in Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The four answers are bear, bed, Goldilocks and porridge.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is ending with drinking vessels. The four answers are fiberglass, Silverstein, smug and stumbler.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is homophones of words meaning «brutal.» The four answers are Gorey, Grimm, grizzly and Scarry.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Jan. 29, #493

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Jan. 29, No. 493.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition features some tricky terms. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Checkmate!

Green group hint: Think Nadia Comăneci.

Blue group hint: Soccer stars.

Purple group hint: H2O.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Chess pieces.

Green group: Gymnastics terms.

Blue group: Premier League Golden Boot winners.

Purple group: Water ____.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is chess pieces. The four answers are bishop, pawn, queen and rook.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is gymnastics terms. The four answers are handspring, round-off, salto and twist.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is Premier League Golden Boot winners. The four answers are

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is water ____. The four answers are bottle, boy, hazard and polo.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Technologies

Google Gives Chrome an AI Side Panel and Lets Gemini Browse for You

The update also includes Nano Banana image tools and deeper integrations with Google apps like Gmail, Calendar, Maps and Flights.

Google is turning Chrome into something closer to a digital copilot.

In the next wave of Gemini updates rolling out, Google on Wednesday revealed a set of new AI-powered features coming directly to its browser, aimed at reducing the frustrations of exploring the internet each day. Built on Gemini 3, the updates introduce an always-available side panel, deeper app integrations, creative image tools and a new browser agent called auto browse that can complete multistep tasks on your behalf.

Essentially, Google wants Chrome to be like an AI wingman that browses, compares and multitasks for you.

Now you can automate browsing

To me, the standout new addition is auto browse, a browser agent designed to handle tedious and time-consuming chores. Instead of hopping between tabs, filling out forms or manually comparing prices of things like products or flights, you can ask Chrome to do the legwork.

Auto browse can research flights and hotels across different dates, collect documents, schedule appointments, manage subscriptions and help with tasks like renewing a driver’s license or filing expense reports.

In a live demo I saw, Product Lead Charmaine D’Silva used the new tools to plan a family vacation. Gemini compared destinations and prices across multiple travel sites, checked school calendars to see when her kids were off and lined up schedules to find workable travel windows. When it came time to book, though, D’Silva emphasized that the final decision and purchase were still hers, underscoring Google’s plan to keep humans in control for key tasks like booking and purchases.

The feature is rolling out to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the US now, signaling Google’s broader push toward more agentic AI experiences.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

A new side panel experience

Another update rolling out now is a redesigned Gemini side panel in Chrome, available across MacOS, Windows and Chromebook Plus. Instead of opening a separate tab, Gemini now lives alongside whatever you’re working on, making it easier to multitask without breaking your flow. Testers have used it to summarize reviews across sites, compare shopping options and juggle packed calendars while keeping their main task front and center.

AI image editing with Nano Banana

Chrome is also trying to become more creative. Google is bringing Nano Banana, its AI image editing and generation tool, directly into the browser. You can now edit and reimagine images you find on the web without downloading files or switching apps — whether that’s mocking up a living room redesign or turning raw data into an infographic at work.

Chrome connects with other Google apps

Under the hood, Gemini in Chrome is becoming more connected to the rest of Google’s ecosystem. Integrations with Gmail, Calendar, Maps, YouTube, Google Flights and Shopping will allow the assistant to pull in relevant context and take action across apps. Planning a trip, for example, could involve referencing an old email, checking flight options and drafting a follow-up email to your travel companions. Now all in one place.

More to come

Looking ahead, Google says personal intelligence is coming to Chrome in the coming months. With user opt-in, Gemini will remember context from past interactions to deliver more tailored, proactive help across the web, while giving you control over what data is connected and when.