Technologies

At Just $40, You’re Absolutely Going to Want to Buy This Microsoft Office License Now

It’s a one-time buy instead of a monthly expense, but it’s only available at this price for a limited time.

As the default on many school and office computers, Microsoft’s Office suite of apps sometimes feels so ubiquitous, you can take the apps for granted. Microsoft Word, for instance, is the industry standard when it comes to word processing. Microsoft Excel offers a higher level of spreadsheet functionality than you’ll generally find in Google Sheets. There’s also Microsoft PowerPoint for creating presentations, Microsoft Outlook for email and scheduling and — on Windows only — Microsoft Access for database management. Together, they’re the original standard for home office productivity — but if you’re buying them on your own dime, they can quickly get pretty pricey.

Assuming the barebones online freebie version of Office won’t work for you (see below), your options essentially boil down to paying a rolling monthly or yearly fee for a Microsoft 365 subscription or punting for a one-time Office license, which typically costs as much as $430 with the full panoply of apps. But right now, StackSocial is offering a chance to grab a perpetual Microsoft Office 2021 license for just $40, which is good for around 90% off the usual price. Better yet, this license, which is available for either Windows or Mac, is a one-time purchase — no recurring charges.

Microsoft

Microsoft Office Professional 2021 lifetime license: $40

Save 91%

This wildly popular offer for a Microsoft Office lifetime license is live once again for just $40. It’s available for both Mac and Windows, so be sure to grab the right one for the computer that you use regularly.

$40 at StackSocial (Windows)

$40 at StackSocial (Mac)

StackSocial’s deal is a great bargain when compared to the online Microsoft 365 subscription suite that starts at $7 a month or $70 a year for individuals. There is 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 note that Outlook is now a free app for the Mac.)

Now, a deal this good comes with some caveats. First, this key is only good for a single computer, so you won’t be able to install it on various 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. And 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: While 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. But versions of Stack’s deal have been running for more than a year — the one we bought in early 2022, for instance, still works fine. At this cost, it takes a little over six months for you to get a full return on the investment compared to buying the subscription, so the risk factor isn’t super high here.

Ready for the next premium app?

Check for promo codes with our CNET Shopping extension before installing the app on your phone.

Technologies

Apple’s New App Store Rules Take Aim at Personal Data Sharing With AI

The changes are a win for privacy and control.

Apple updated its App Review Guidelines page on Thursday, introducing changes to the handling of personal data sharing and the requirements that must be met before doing so. Noncompliant apps could be removed from the App Store.

The updated language in the rules calls out that personal data shared with third parties must be both clearly disclosed and only with the explicit permission of the user.

The language echoes previous guidelines, but points out that these third parties also include artificial intelligence:

«You must clearly disclose where personal data will be shared with third parties, including with third-party AI, and obtain explicit permission before doing so. Data collected from apps may only be shared with third parties to improve the app or serve advertising (in compliance with the Apple Developer Program License Agreement),» it says.

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

Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Most of the world knows AI in the form of chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude, but the term extends well beyond these to technologies like machine learning, which learns and improves itself based on data.

Apple is set to release its long-awaited AI-powered Siri soon, which may be powered by a custom version of Google’s Gemini underneath.

The small change is a win in a world where privacy often feels more like a concept than a reality, especially as AI technology continues to surge.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Nov. 14, #417

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Nov. 14, No. 417.

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 is a bit of a toughie. There are a few logos that help some players and hurt others. If you’re struggling 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 show up in the NYT Games app but appears 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: No longer in the mix.

Green group hint: Think J.R. Ewing.

Blue group hint: It was a good year for them.

Purple group hint: On your mark, get set, go!

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Take out of a competition.

Green group: Dallas-Fort Worth teams.

Blue group: Teams to win championships in 2025.

Purple group: ____ race.

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 take out of a competition. The four answers are bounce, defeat, eliminate and knock out.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is Dallas-Fort Worth teams. The four answers are Cowboys, Mavericks, Rangers and Stars.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is teams to win championships in 2025. The four answers are Aces, Dodgers, Eagles and Thunder.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ race. The four answers are horse, pennant, relay and road.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Friday, Nov. 14

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Nov. 14.

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

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? I struggled with 4-Across, but the other answers filled it in. And I laughed at 6-Down, where The New York Times gets all meta. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.