Technologies

Best Monitor Deals: Lowest Prices at Amazon, Newegg, LG and More

Cash in on savings on 2K and 4K displays from Acer, Dell, LG, Pixio, Samsung and ViewSonic.

According to my eyes (and my wallet), if you’re looking for the best value on a new computer monitor, you’ll want to be shopping for a 27-inch QHD display or a 32-inch UHD display. These monitors are going to offer the biggest bang for your buck in terms of screen size, resolution and price. Just about any model with these specs is going to produce a satisfactorily sharp picture for the size of the panel while still retaining a reasonable price.

My current monitor is a 27-inch QHD (quad HD or 2,560×1,440-pixel resolution) monitor that I bought for $250, but I did nearly go with a 32-inch UHD (ultra HD or 3,840×2,160-pixel) display that would have offered more room and more pixels for only a bit more money. Between these two different sizes, you can easily find a screen to perfectly fit your desk space, your work needs and, most importantly, your budget. The world’s creatives, hobbyists and professional gamers who worry about color gamut and refresh rates might find that they need a higher-end screen than you’ll find on our list, but these displays are big enough for most needs, and with sufficient pixel density to produce a sharp, quality image.

Be sure to check out CNET’s monitor buying guide for more info, and keep updated on the best deals I currently see among 27-inch QHD and 32-inch UHD displays. I will continue to keep this story updated as pricing fluctuates and I uncover better deals, so check back often.

Best 27-inch monitor deals

These 27-inch models feature QHD resolution and give you more screen real estate than a 24-inch, FHD (full HD or 1,920×1,080 pixels) display, and better resolution, too. And it gives you all of that for not too much more money. You might also come across 27-inch 4K displays in your search. Those displays offer a certain quality worth consideration, but in my experience, a QHD or 2K resolution is more than sufficient when stretched across a 27-inch panel.

Best 32-inch monitor deals

The next step up in size, resolution and price from a 27-inch QHD display is a 32-inch UHD display. Ultra HD is also commonly referred to as 4K.

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Technologies

Google Agrees to Pay $135M in Huge Android Data-Harvesting Settlement

Google’s settlement with Android users would resolve the lawsuit and alter how the company manages its terms of service, though not all users would receive financial compensation.

Android users, take note: On Tuesday, Google reached a preliminary settlement in a class action lawsuit over illegal data collection. If it goes through, Google will pay out $135 million to Android phone users, possibly the largest settlement of this kind in history.

According to the lawsuit, starting in 2017, Google programmed its Android OS to automatically collect cellular data via carriers, with no way for users to opt out. The lawsuit asserted that this data collection occurred even when users took steps such as disabling location tracking or closing apps.

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The lawsuit also made a significant claim: that Google’s data collection practices constituted a crime called conversion. Conversion occurs when one party takes property from another with the intent to deprive them of it. No conversion cases have ever settled for $135 million.

As part of the settlement, Google has denied any wrongdoing.

«We are pleased to resolve this case, which mischaracterized standard industry practices that keep Android safe. We’re providing additional disclosures to give people more information about how our services work,» said Google spokesperson José Castañeda.

The lawsuit could have significant implications for data privacy and other data collection practices. It will also change Google’s terms of service. The company has agreed to obtain more explicit consent from Android users when first using new phones, to include a toggle button to turn off certain types of data collection, and to disclose data collection more clearly.

How do Android users know if they’ll get paid?

This is a preliminary settlement ahead of the first trial date in August, so we don’t yet know all the details. The judge will have to approve the settlement and confirm the time frame, payment method and other specifics.

Here’s what we do know: Payments would be capped at $100 per person, so no one should expect to get more than that. Also, in most cases, you have to sign up to become a part of a class action lawsuit. If you didn’t sign on to this specific lawsuit by now, you’re not likely to receive any money.

Another settlement involved ad targeting

It’s been an eventful week for Google settlements. Earlier this week, Google also agreed to a $68 million preliminary settlement in another class action lawsuit, this one involving Google Assistant (now being replaced with Gemini for Home).

Users said smart devices used Google Assistant to listen to them without their activation, leading to ad targeting based on information they hadn’t willingly shared.

In that settlement, payments will be made automatically. No claim form is required to receive a payment.

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.

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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.